[LabComm] James, Brar Call on Province to Take Action On Crisis at Surrey Memorial Hospital

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

James, Brar Call on Province to Take Action On Crisis at Surrey Memorial Hospital



SURREY - NDP Leader Carole James and Surrey Panorama Ridge MLA Jagrup Brar today called on the Campbell government to take action to improve emergency care at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

"Patients in Surrey are not getting the care they expect and deserve," said James. "The Campbell government needs to first admit that there is a problem and then take immediate steps to improve emergency care at Surrey Memorial."

Brar pointed to a recent report commissioned by the Fraser Health Authority following a series of post-operative infections at Surrey Memorial.  The Cochrane Report - which was released almost two months ago - put forward a series of specific recommendations to improve patient care at Surrey Memorial, none of which have been acted upon by the Campbell government or the Fraser Health Authority.

"The ongoing crisis at Surrey Memorial is hurting patients," said Brar. "But the Campbell government continues to drag its feet, pretending there is no crisis and leaving patients in Surrey without the care they need."

Earlier this week, Health Minister Shirley Bond refused to say when the Cochrane Report recommendations would be acted upon, if at all.

"The Minister of Health needs to wake up and take the crisis at Surrey Memorial much more seriously than she has," said James. "Families of patients like Baljit Bains, who passed away tragically last week in Surrey Memorial's emergency ward, have a right to know why they are not getting proper treatment.  And they expect the government to do much more than ignore the problem."

"Carole James and I are calling today on the Campbell Government to implement the recommendations of the Cochrane Report and ensure that the circumstances surrounding Mr. Bains' death are fully and independently investigated," said Brar.

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