Dear editor,
Bravo to Mayor Bates.
The two-hospital solution is a compromise that lost sight of its purpose.
I believe the political process has resulted in the regional district, hospital board and VIHA having "lost the plot." We are spending almost twice the money for continued inadequate services.
The crucial surgical service is still split between sites.
Who cares? You should care.
If it so happens you have an emergent need — i.e. surgical need from a injury, from trauma, or an acute medical need, gastrointestinal bleed, etc., you have a 50/50 chance of the surgeon being available locally.
Why does that matter? Because there are delays in your care, it is often faster to fly you to the city than road ambulance transfer between hospitals.
As you can see, I strongly disagree with the direction the hospital district is going. I am very much not alone with this opinion.
Many of my colleagues are exhausted trying to get the right thing done; one hospital with a state-of-the-art local health centre at the 'other' site. I hope my letter will reawaken some of their lost resolve.
Dr. Phil Luke.
Comox
Editor's note: Dr. Phil Luke is an emergency room physician at St. Joseph's General Hospital in Comox.