In a recently-released report by the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) - the report makes the argument that Northern Health spent 3.5 times for health capital in the North Cariboo (Quesnel) vs that by Interior Health for the Central/South Cariboo (Williams Lake and 100 Mile House) over a ten year period
According to the report -- $930 per person was spent for health capital in the North Cariboo by Northern Health vs a measly $273 per person for health capital in the Central/South Cariboo area by Interior Health
John Massier - Cariboo RD Director for Area 'C' (Wells/Barlow Creek) and the Chair of the CCRHD says:
“I want to get the figures out there for the public to see why the board has these feelings that they’re being underserviced really and you know people can either agree or disagree with us.”
Read more here
For myself - the aforementioned report of the CCRHD is one more reason why the Central/South Cariboo should immediately move to Northern Health as I truly believe we would be better off with them and I strongly disagree with Williams Lake Council on their 'pacifism' view about the whole Northern vs Interior Health debate. It's time to aggressively push this forward and send a message to Interior Health that we are 110% dissatisfied with being the "lost cousin" for health services/capital compared to Kamloops, Kelowna, & Vernon and if they (Interior Health) don't want to look after all areas of the IHA then let Northern Health take over health operations in the "entire" Cariboo-Chilcotin as they would likely do a better job than Interior Health has done to date.
My own thanks to Chair Massier of the CCRHD, CRD Chair Al Richmond and 100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall for pushing this item onto the public agenda and I truly hope that they continue to make the argument if Interior Health isn't up to the job, then let Northern Health come in and let's see what they can do for health services in Williams Lake/100 Mile House in addition to Quesnel.
At the very worst - we'll be no better off with Northern Health than Interior Health but knowing the health care debate in Quesnel like I do, I would suggest that moving to Northern Health would be in the Central/South Cariboo's best interests'
SBF
1 comment:
There may be more that meets the eye here.At a andmeeting I attended some 3 yrs.ago{I estimate}we were told spending in our area would be on hold while very large improvements were being carried out in hospitals in Kamloops,Vernon and Kelowna.Certainly improvments in Kamloops and Kelowna will also benefit our northern regions and althought we do not like this delay for our region we have to understand there is just so much money to go around.Interior health certainly has a much larger population to look after than northern health.If we were moved to the northern region would their spending budget be put to the test?Would we really be better off?TOM
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