[LabComm] Shortage in Care Beds Putting Patients at Risk, Says James

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

Shortage in Care Beds Putting Patients at Risk, Says James

Capital Regional District Health Study Pins Blame on BC Liberals for Cutting Too Deeply

VICTORIA - Since 2002, the BC Liberal government has cut a total of 205 care beds for seniors in the Victoria area alone NDP Leader Carole James said today. The findings are included in a report released by the Capital Regional District.

"This study shows in detail how Gordon Campbell is breaking his promise to seniors and families by cutting long-term care beds," said James. "Today, seniors in the Capital Region are receiving less care than they did when Gordon Campbell became Premier."

Completed in mid-September 2004 and submitted to the Vancouver Island Health Authority, the report concludes that the shortfall in residential care beds is a result of government cuts that went too deep. The end result is a serious undersupply of residential care and assisted living beds, long waiting lists, and back-ups in hospital acute care beds.

"Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals have failed seniors and they've failed patients," said James. "They promised 5,000 new long-term and intermediate care beds in the last election, but the result is fewer beds, not more. Waitlists are up. Drug costs are up. Medical Service Premiums are up. And urgently needed long-term care beds are actually being eliminated by this government. 

"That's created a real crisis for patients and their families as they cope with increased health risks, financial hardship, and uncertainty about their future."

According to the CRD study, it's taking longer to place patients in residential care beds, there are more people on waitlists for beds, and the trends are getting worse.

"What's clear from this report is that the Campbell Liberals have seriously mismanaged health care," said James. "They promised better care for seniors, but they've delivered a crisis with short-sighted cuts and no plan in place to deal with the fallout. 

"I challenge Mr. Campbell and his Health Minister to explain how things got this bad so quickly," said James. "They owe it to British Columbians to admit that patient care is getting worse and to take immediate action to fund more long-term care beds as they promised to do in the last election."

James said the NDP would immediately increase operating funding for non-profit long-term care beds by $50 million. She said that would fund an additional 1000 new beds in communities throughout BC.

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To read the Capital Regional District reports, see the following links:

http://www.crd.bc.ca/reports/healthfacilitie_/assistedlivings/AssistedLivingSTAFFREPORT.pdf

http://www.crd.bc.ca/reports/healthfacilitie_/assistedlivings/AssistedLivingStaffReportAttachment1.pdf

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