The province's health minister says he's fully aware of the concerns raised by doctors at Delta Hospital and will meet with them when he can.
Terry Lake had that to say following an inquiry from the Optimist about when the two sides will finally get together for a formal discussion, something Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton promised at a community forum in mid-February.
Lake said he appreciates the commitment of those who support the hospital and that Fraser Health has been working closely with doctors and other health care workers to find solutions to the concerns raised about surgical services.
"This work has been progressing along for some time, and Fraser Health and MLA Scott Hamilton have kept me updated on the discussions taking place and the work being done over the last few months. I also had the opportunity to discuss surgical services with doctors at Delta Hospital when we announced the expansion of the diagnostic imaging and laboratory services last month," Lake said.
"Over the last couple weeks, I agreed with MLA Hamilton that it was time for me to personally meet with the doctors. My office will work with Scott and with the health authority to set up this meeting."
Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington put Lake on the spot during question period last Thursday in the legislature. In a press release issued later that day, Huntington noted the minister said he was willing to meet with the Delta Hospital Medical Staff Association in response to her questions.
"Delta's doctors have been waiting to meet the minister since last fall," said Huntington. "I've asked him to meet. Delta's mayor has asked him to meet. The Friends of Delta Hospital have asked him to meet and the Tsawwassen First Nation is in full support of the initiative," she said.
Huntington noted that according to the doctors, there is an acute need for four short-stay surgical beds to ensure patient safety following emergency surgeries at Delta Hospital.
"It's a very big issue for this community and we are getting there, inch by inch," said Huntington. "A petition with over 8,000 signatures supporting the need for improved surgical services is currently circulating in Delta."
Saying he has been working with the minister to set up the best time for a meeting, Hamilton told the Optimist he's annoyed by Huntington's statement, going so far as to say, "That press release is BS, and you can print that as far as I'm concerned."
Hamilton said he has been updating the minister, as well as working with Fraser Health, on the issue for the last two months and Huntington's attempt to put Lake on the spot when he had already agreed to meet with the doctors was pointless. Hamilton added the minister's schedule has been busy, but that doesn't mean Lake isn't being updated and preparing for the upcoming meeting.
"It doesn't help to try to throw marbles at his feet. The minister has agreed to me, has already said to me, that he will be scheduling a meeting, hopefully in about a month," Hamilton said.
• On another front, Mayor Lois Jackson and TFN Chief Bryce Williams last week signed a joint letter of support for Delta Hospital. The letter addressed to Lake urges the province "to take immediate steps to address service level shortfalls at Delta Hospital."
• Friends of Delta Hospital is organizing another town hall meeting on Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at the South Delta Recreation Centre.
