One has to wonder when was the last time Okanagan Vernon MLA Tom Christensen was at Vernon Jubilee Hospital for something other than photo-ops?
If he or a loved one had been admitted for a serious health issue and then parked in a hallway, perhaps he would be a little more sympathetic about conditions at the primary health centre for the North Okanagan-Shuswap.
Instead, Christensen toes the party line and refers to the $81 million being spent on a new diagnostic and treatment tower.
And certainly that investment is appreciated, but keep in mind that 40 per cent of that $81 million is actually coming from local residents through property taxes. It’s not all of Victoria’s cash Christensen is taking credit for.
It is increasingly evident that VJH is inadequately funded compared to other hospitals and can’t keep pace with population growth.
Government officials like to challenge the doctors who have put figures out indicating a crisis at VJH. But keep in mind that the statistics used are from the Interior Health Authority itself, and who should the public believe — doctors who are on the frontlines every day or bureaucrats far removed from the situation?
Instead of just listening to IHA and the Ministry of Health, Christensen needs to place more credence on the information coming from doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. And he should also pay attention to the 200 people who crowded into a forum Tuesday.
The fact that so many people gave up their own time to attend a meeting should speak volumes.
It is time for Christensen to take the situation at VJH seriously.
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Obviously, our MLA had to "toe" the party line. After all, he could not "finger" it, could he?
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