Health regionat A.D.(Andy) Danyliu Contributing Columnist The recent sacking of the North Shore Board of Health and its executive director by Victoria was not the complete solution to the problems the NDP created with their haste to “region- alize” the provision of health services. I remember the enthusi- asm and optimism of Diana Hutchinson, at the prospects of regionalization, while we were colleagues on West Vancouver District Council. She actually delieved the government line that bring- ing the costs closer to home would be accompanied by corresponding authority. She would soon learn that when senior govern- ments download they usually offer accountability without authority. I tried to warn her that “Closer to Home” and “regionalization” were the euphemisms for getting provincial debt downloaded off their books by creating .. another body that would _“The consultation process with the stakeholders of our health care system was transparently meaningless...” then be obliged to follow provincial instructions _ while taking the blame when these instructions didn’t work. Few could argue thaz health care is best adminis- tered by those experts clos- est to their clients. However the NDP stampede to create local health boards contributed mightily to the appointment of people to the North Shore health board who lacked the prerequisite expertise. Judging them upon their results they lacked ai under- standing of the medical pro- fession and failed to gauge public opinion. The tired board and its executive director thought they could shift moncy from the medical factories known as hospitals to preventive programs run by other pro- fessional groups. The general public might have supportzd such a move if ic had not been accompa- nied by an apparent deterio- ration ‘of hospital services. “Glen Clark’s appaintment of Len Kelsey to review the situation was a brilliant political move. Premier Clark has demonstrated this skill on many previous occa- sions. However, unless Mr. Kelscy is given the power to recommend a compertcnt board thar also has public endorsement, I think we are doomed to another failure. Such public endorsement is normally rooted in elec- tions. The next municipal elce- tions are more than a year ec nC away. That is much too long for another group of well- meaning amateurs to be allowed to tinker with the delivery of our health care system. The recent shuffle of cab- Open breothable, two piece? Shell for cool fies support Precision bearings. Sizes 2-5 oe UNBEATABLE Low PRICE GUARANTEE! ~. © ONE YEAR SATISFACTION GUARANTEE! . ‘orev (as NORTH VANCOUVER 1882 Marine Drive « rol ity trent rote Foss, Guildferd) 582-1133, inet Ministers offers Clark the opportunity for some Ace-saving changes. Intelligent modifications to the “regionalized health policy” would be welcomed Sy all because the new sys tem had nor been sufficient: ly thought through prior to implementation. Consultants in organiza- tional development were appalled at the way that regionalization of health ser- vices was implemented by the NDP. The Ministry of Health managed to take a great idea and allow it to be totally sabotaged by circumstance, haste, and bureaucratic inep- titude, The consultation process with the stake-holders of our health care system was trans- parendy meaningless because it was obvious the decisions had already been made. [ know because I was there in my former capacity as the head of a major provincial charitable organi- zation contributing to health care in our province. Ministry of Health officials, working to implementation deadlines that were protes- Wednesday, April 29, 1998 — North Shore News - 17 sionally unrealistic, trampled over concerns raised by those of us who were being “consulted.” On the North Shore “closer to home” and “regionalization,” became the slogans for shifting Moncey trom treatment to prevention, Apparendy the bureau: crats forgot that those Already sick needed to be cured before being switched to prevention. Doctors rebelled, sick zople were further dis- tressed and confusion in health care reigned on the ization was a euphemism North Share. Len Kelsev has apparently been given an opportunity to remedy the present sick health situation. T hope Glen Clark has also given him the time and money to prescribe the right medicine. 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