More broken promises, neglect of elders deepens

Seniors in residential care facilities are now paying more for less.

With the increase in residential care rates for seniors and the announcement of layoffs of staff at Interior Health’s Columbia House in Invermere, residents are going to be paying more while services are going to be cut.

“When the government initially announced the increases to residential care fees they promised that the extra $54 million that would be raised would go towards improving care, but that is not what is happening in Interior Health facilities in this area,” said Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald. [Read more]

Cough and fever? — stay at home

Use your ER wisely – advice for patients with flu-like symptoms.

Interior Health.

Interior Health would like to remind everyone that hospital Emergency Departments are designed for the treatment of seriously ill patients and those requiring urgent care. If you go to the Emergency Department when your symptoms aren’t serious, this can result in high volumes and delays in treatment.

Most cases of the H1N1 flu virus in BC have been mild, with people recovering on their own, at home. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, particularly if you have a cough and a fever, it’s advised you stay home for 7-10 days or until your symptoms have resolved and you’re able to continue with daily activities. This will help prevent the spread of infection. [Read more]

Hospital board meeting, Oct 9 highlights

Highlights from the hospital district board meeting of October 9, 2009.

H1N1 Flu Update.

The Board received an update from Allan Sinclair, Interior Health’s Chief Operating Officer for the East and West Kootenay. Interior Health has plans in place at all of its health care facilities and hospitals to deal with influenza-like illnesses, including H1N1.

Interior Health continues to encourage people to wash their hands frequently, use Emergency Rooms only if absolutely necessary, and stay home if they are not well. Anyone with questions regarding H1N1 or other health related issues can call Health Link BC at 8-1-1 or visit their website www.healthlinkbc.ca. [Read more]

Contractor named for Invermere ER project

Interior Health has awarded the contract for the $4.3-million Invermere and District Hospital Redevelopment project to Mierau Contractors Ltd.

Mierau Contractors Ltd is based in Abbotsford BC with a satellite office in Kamloops. In business since 1970, Mierau has 30 employees. Mierau Contractors prides itself in working and supporting the local economy when it goes into a new community, such as Invermere. Interior Health has worked with Mierau Contractors since 2001 on such projects as the Arrow Lakes Hospital Extension in Nakusp, the Lytton Hospital and Extended Care, and the Ashcroft Hospital. [Read more]

'Fair and equitable' rate jump for residential care

Government to raise $53.7 million in revenue on the backs of seniors in residential care.

by Norm Macdonald MLA

Beginning January 2010, seniors in residential care facilities will now pay $53.7 million more. The BC Liberal government’s latest move to increase revenues comes at the expense of the most vulnerable seniors, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

Fees for room and board in residential care facilities will increase as much as 29%, which Health Minister Falcon claims is defensible.

“For the Minister, these are just numbers, they don’t mean anything,” said Macdonald. “But for seniors, these increases will have a devastating impact.” [Read more]

Invermere ER project goes to tender

The $4.3-million Invermere and District Hospital ER Redevelopment Project took another big step forward today as Interior Health released a call for tenders for construction.

“Invermere has a busy ER serving its local and visiting populations, so this was an important project for government,” said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon. “This is part of our commitment to improving ER departments across B.C. to the benefit of those who need urgent care and for the physicians and staff who provide it.”

Through this construction, the emergency department will be expanded and redeveloped to make best use of existing space, doubling the size from 245 square metres (2,600 square feet) to 546 square metres (5,800 square feet), increasing the number of treatment bays from six to 12. It also includes a new separate ambulance entrance. [Read more]

McKee: "I didn’t accomplish these things on my own"

This is a response to recent letters about my involvement in the restructuring of health-care facilities in Revelstoke:

As a mayor (I was Mayor of the City of Revelstoke from November 2002 until November 2008), you get involved in just about every aspect of the community.  As mayor, I received direction on issues by public sentiment and direction from Council.  There was no doubt that the way IHA introduced its planned changes did nothing to build community support.  The plan first proposed did not — in most people’s minds — meet the needs of the community.  I was the one that told IHA the plan was not acceptable and they should go back to the drawing board.  We formed the mayor’s advisory committee on health care to have input on the proposed changes.  Most of us knew that changes were coming and we should be part of the solutions. [Read more]

ER expansion — “give credit where credit is due”

Press release —

Invermere ER announcement: give credit where credit is due.

Today’s official announcement of the upgrade to the emergency room of the Invermere and District Regional Hospital comes as no surprise to Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald, with an election only five weeks away. Spending announcements are often delayed so that they can be announced during the pre-election timeframe, and this announcement is no different.

“The way in which this announcement was made is a clear attempt to give credit where it was not earned,” said Macdonald. “The real credit for this announcement should go to the doctors and residents in this area who organized themselves to show the Minister the need for the upgrade. And credit should go to the Mayor and council who spoke up.” [Read more]

Invermere ER to double in size

As part of a slew of recent funding announcements by the provincial government, money for the much-needed Invermere and District Hospital emergency room expansion (ER) was announced last weekend at the local health care facility.

Although some may write off the cash influx as pre election posturing, residents can take comfort in the $4.3 million investment in the community, according to East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett. [Read more]