Acute care returns to hospital
Provincial Health Minister George Abbott announces designation change and increase in the number of beds

Sandor Gyarmati
The Delta Optimist

Saturday, July 12, 2008

CREDIT: photo by Robert Shaer
Health Minister George Abbott was at Delta Hospital yesterday morning to deliver some good news. He was joined by MLA Val Roddick, Coun. Scott Hamilton and others.

Delta Hospital will have acute care beds again, provincial Health Minister George Abbott announced yesterday.

Joined by Fraser Health, Delta Hospital Foundation and other officials at the hospital, Abbott announced the hospital's existing 38 sub-acute rehabilitation beds are to be converted into acute medical beds.

There are also going to be 12 new beds and additional staff. The hospital will also get a CT scanner as part of the upgrade.

"Part of the future vision for Delta Hospital includes additional acute care capacity to meet the demands of a growing population in Delta, neighbouring communities and Fraser Health as a whole," said Abbott.

Noting a recruitment drive would soon begin to fill the staffing positions, the minister said the hospital would be a key facility to meet the needs of an aging population.

Abbott pointed out Delta Hospital is already an important facility providing day surgeries.

Saying the Delta Hospital Foundation and the Delta Hospital Auxiliary played an important part in the change, Nigel Murray, president and CEO of Fraser Health, said turning the hospital into an acute care centre would alleviate pressure on other facilities.

Delta Hospital became a flashpoint for the community earlier this decade when the health region announced cuts, including changing the hospital's acute care beds to sub-acute as well as closing the emergency room overnight.

The health region backed off shutting down the ER but the downgrade to the hospital's status went ahead. In 2004, former Fraser Health CEO Bob Smith said groups could protest all they want to restore services but it was a waste of time.

Thanking everyone involved in the long campaign to upgrade the level of care, Delta South MLA Val Roddick spoke about her recent mini-stroke at yesterday's announcement. She said she had to be transferred elsewhere for care, including a CT scan.

Delta patients requiring use of the diagnostic imaging device, which captures three-dimensional images of the body, are currently transported by ambulance to Peace Arch Hospital.

Last summer, the foundation announced a $2.5 million pledge toward the purchase and installation of a unit. Fraser Health was expected to pick up the operational costs.

The hospital foundation has been lobbying for over two years to get a scanner.

At the announcement yesterday, foundation chair Stephen Millen said the group will be providing $1.7 million toward the cost of a unit, which turns out to be less that what was originally pledged.

"It's not often you're asked to give less money that what you originally offered," quipped Millen.

Noting the foundation fulfilled a $500,000 wish list for equipment last year, Millen said he's confident the money will soon be raised for the scanner.

The Corporation of Delta may also contribute toward the cost. Delta CAO George Harvie told the Optimist a report would be discussed at next week's council meeting recommending a question be placed on this fall's municipal election ballot. It will ask residents if they'd like the municipality to donate $500,000 toward the unit.

Also on hand at yesterday's announcement was Delta North MLA Guy Gentner.

He said while it's good news for the hospital, the facility is only getting back what it rightfully had in the first place.

The first-term NDP MLA said the Liberal government is engaged in "yo-yo medicine."

© The Delta Optimist 2008