Al2 - Wednesday, May 12, 1982 - North Shore News

NO FRILLS LEFT TO TRIM

The real cost
of cutting

back at LGH

CYRIL DANIEL is a healthy, robust person who
honestly can’t remember the last time he took a
sick day. But about three weeks ago he suffered a
sudden seizure and was taken to Lions Gate
Hospital, where he later learned he had a brain

tumoyr.

The North Vancouver
engineer credits dedicated
nursing. speedy diagnosis
and prompt surgery with
easing his anxiety.

“They discovered that the
tumour was located on the
most sensitive part of my
brain, so time was really of
the essence. The operating
theatre was booked for the
earliest possible op-
portunity. All this was very
reassunny, so when | went
for surgery I was” very

positive.” he said
Neurosurgeon Dr. Bran
Hunt says it may not work

hke that for all his patients in
future

“When people pet. sick
they expect all avatlable
treatment and the best
possible care, as quickly as
possible. But despite
assurances from the minister
of health, people on the
North Shore are simply not
going to get the high quality
of care they have come to
expect.”

In efforts to live with a
$3.8 million funding shortfall
in 1982, LGH has laid off
more than 140 employees
and will shortly close $5
care beds — none of which
were scheduled to close for
the summer. Hardest hit are
the special care areas which
require highly-skilled
nursing for the critacally all

There are no fnlls on 7

In lhalian

Dishes

150-25 St_ West Vancouver BC

By VICK! O’BRIEN

East, a 37-bed unit shared
between neurology and
internal medicine. On the
neurological side the case
load ranges from patients
with acute head injyumes to
stroke victims.

Covering the umit are
three registered nurses,
three licensed practical
nurses and an orderly. Two
R.N.'s are assigned to the
six-bed neurological special
care unit to take care of the
senously-1ll or post-surgery
patients.

The same staff ratio is
needed 24 hours a day Says
acting head nurse Pat
Stevens if a patient is
unconscious. it doesn't
matter whether it is might or
day, he needs the same care.

“Physicians rely on the
nurses’ judgment at least 23
hours a day. It is the nurse
who decides if a_ subtle
change in a patient's con-
dition can wait, or whether 1
needs immediate attention
to ward off potentially hfe-
threatening complications.

Hunt says patient care will
definitely suffer if staff are
cul or beds are closed on 7
East

“We are already operating
at the bare minimum, but we
have managed to keep our

standards high in spite of
that.

“We try not to keep
patients here, but with the
system backed up they may
end up being weaker when
they get to us, staying longer
and waiting for placement in
rehabilitation or activation
facilities that will also be
clogged.”

Nurses will be unable to
take continuing education
courses. vital in a = rapidly
changing. high technology
field. In busy tumes inex-
penenced staff will be called
in, an added problem for the
senior nurses.

His concerns are echoed
by the nurses. “Here
emergencies are a matter of
course,” said Stevens.

“ALL the technology in the
world doesn't help if there 1s
no one around to interpret
the information. Having to
make senous judgment calls
when you are understaffed 1s
exhausting and frustrating ”

Hunt says the public must
be made aware of what 1s
happening in health care
today.

“Look, health 1s not a
God-given right, it can be
taken away from you at any
ume. If you expect the
hospital to look after you,
then you simply can't pare
down the system any more.”

Cynl Daniels agrees
Following his surgery he
faces cobalt treatment at the
Cancer Control Agency of
BC

“PT sal can't belhheve what

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has happned, that | should
have this after being healthy
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dedication, was
magnificent.”

ITS ALL SMILES as
Cyril Daniel is checked
by registered nurse Pat
Stevens and Dr. Brian
Hunt. But all three are
vitally concerned that the
excellence of care being
enjoyed by Daniel which
has been standard
practice at Lions Gate-
Hospital may not be
possible to the same

extent with the increased
pressures.

Correction: 7

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