It's becoming readily apparent that those who live here look at Delta Hospital just a little bit differently than those on the outside controlling the purse strings.
Everyone agrees on what a great little hospital we have, but opinions start to differ when it comes to the facility's role and the array of services it should provide.
After doctors sounded the alarm last fall over the absence of a 24/7 surgical program, the community rallied, forming an advocacy group and, more recently, hosting a standing room-only public forum. The overriding sentiment has been one of getting shortchanged, a concern that services and bed ratios enjoyed elsewhere are lacking here.
I fully admit I subscribe to the theory, but I also recognize that Fraser Health, which provides health care to a staggering 1.7 million people, must look at the situation from a much broader perspective.
Not surprisingly, a look through its lens reveals not just a hospital, but an entire health network where the goal is to create the "right mix" of services, taking into account locals as well as the region as a whole.
When it comes to the surgical program, Fraser Health is quick to point out the number of surgeries at Delta Hospital has doubled over the last eight years to the point where more than 5,000 procedures were performed last year. From a regional standpoint, this growth signals an investment and commitment to the hospital's surgical program.
The health authority also maintains that contrary to information circulating in the community, Delta Hospital isn't the only one in the region without a 24/7 surgical program. It says Eagle Ridge and Mission Memorial are both in similar situations.
The arrangements make perfect sense from a regional perspective, but if there's any comfort in knowing we're not alone in that regard, it's definitely on the chilly side. We're not in last place on our own, but rather in a three-way tie, which isn't necessarily something to celebrate.
And when it comes to the number of surgeries performed at Delta Hospital, only one-third of patients actually come from Delta, which means growth of the program in recent years has primarily benefited those elsewhere in the region.
The ongoing dispute has highlighted the fact Delta Hospital is part of a larger network and decisions are often made in a regional context. It's something we've got to recognize, but it doesn't mean we've got to like it.
