The verdict from the North Island was loud and clear last weekend: their voices have been ignored for too long.
A health-care rally on Saturday, March 11, drew hundreds of frustrated residents from all over northern Vancouver Island to Port McNeill.
The rally was organized by Port McNeill resident Fran Jenkins and her team of supporters, and she said she was thrilled by the amount of people who showed up to speak out.
Jenkins said she was inspired to start the rally because of stories sheB次元官网网址檇 been hearing about Island Healthfrom across the North Island.
B次元官网网址淭he harder we dug and found more stories, with no explanations and no direct corrections coming so things didnB次元官网网址檛 happen again, I felt we needed to get together as a group with one voice to be heard,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not here bashing Island Health. I want to come out of this with something that we can take to Island Health thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be productive. Lets make this work again.B次元官网网址�
The regionB次元官网网址檚 health-care crisis is no secret.
Port McNeill Hospital was the first to suffer emergency room closures due to staff shortages. The situation stabilized enough to reopen 24/7 service again, but then similar situations emerged in Port Hardy and Cormorant Island, forcing those hospitals to shut down overnight services indefinitely in a situation that continues.
Longtime Port McNeill doctor Prean Armogam was sitting front row at the rally. Armogam was the only physician in the region who attended the rally in person, saying thatB次元官网网址檚 because heB次元官网网址檚 one of the few who isnB次元官网网址檛 B次元官网网址渦nder the thumb of the health authority.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 think people have been duped for far too long, and I think frontline staff have been muzzled.B次元官网网址�
Action taken to strengthen North Vancouver Island health care
Island Health issued a lengthy statement on Tuesday (March 14), explaining how the organization and its partners have made significant progress to improve and stabilize health-care services for the North Island region.
B次元官网网址淣orth Vancouver Island residents are quickly benefiting from Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 improvements, especially by attracting and recruiting health-care professionals from across the province, country and beyond,B次元官网网址� said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
Island Health has hired new staff to support the health system in the North Island and anticipates delivering over $280,000 in quarterly retention bonuses to more than 200 employees in the first quarter of the program, with eligible staff already receiving enhanced travel compensation.
B次元官网网址淭he $30 million investment will help to bring more stability and improved health care for the communities,B次元官网网址� said Michele Babchuk, MLA for North Island.
With the purchasing of a new CT scanner well under way, local residents will benefit from drastically reduced travel times to access the health services they need.
B次元官网网址淲e have established a task force that includes leaders from multiple teams whose focus is to ensure our patients and care providers realize the benefits of these investments as quickly as possible. IB次元官网网址檓 proud of what the team has accomplished alreadyB次元官网网址� said James Hanson, Island Health Vice-President, Central/North Island clinical operations.
Island Health has added two additional long-term care beds at Eagle Ridge Manor and increased services and residential capacity in the Port Hardy community by 10 per cent to better support seniors requiring long-term care. Action has been taken to expand sobering, assessment and sheltering services currently offered by the Salvation Army, an Island Health contracted services provider.
The health authority says that as a result of its recruiting efforts, 18 candidates have accepted job offers in the North Vancouver Island region, including two nurses who have chosen to relocate from outside the North Vancouver Island region and will be starting work in the coming weeks.
A quick breakdown, according to Island Health:
- Three Registered Nurses/Registered Psychiatric Nurses hired (currently engaged and working 12 qualified candidates through recruitment and selection process, including five in the interview stage);
- One Licensed Practical Nurse hired and two in the interview stage;
- One community professional hired into home care and public health (Five qualified candidates in the interview and offer stages);
- Seven support staff hired (includes ambassadors, nursing assistants and health care support workers);
- One Protection Services Officer hired (currently engaged and working four candidates through recruitment and selection process including one in the offer stage); and
- Two full time and two casual Inter-facility Porters for dedicated shuttle service hired (offers extended for two additional positions).
- with file from Island Health
editor@northislandgazette.com
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