SUNDAY March 17, 1996 question hospital service CONCERNS THAT cutbacks at Lions Gate Hospital have reduced care service provided are being voiced by those who are most affected —- patients and their families. By fan Noble News Reporter But hospital vice-president of diag- nostic services Stew Madil] said the facility continues to provide good service delivery in the face of fiscal) pressures. He did acknowledge, however. that some people do fall through the cracks. Margo Brown. 79, had her gall blad- der removed recently. Two days later the hospital told her she was going home, but she complained she had no onc to take her there and nubody at home to care for her. She agrees patients should be sent home as soon as possible, “but at least find out if someone is at home to take care of them.” A doctor, who was not her doctor for the operation, put her in touch with a care service, She was provided with a taxi ride home and assigned a nurse who visited her every other diy and changed her dressings. If not for that doctor, “! wouldn't have been helped at all. } don't know what I'd have dons.” she said. Upon her return home. she had diffi- culty getting hold of her doctor while she experienced painful diarrhea and consti- pation. The hospital food, she said, remains terrible. “I couldn't get it down.” She claims she was neglected while at the hospital. “I didn’t get the attention that I should.” Mike Northcott also complained of neglect by LGH. He said he took his 76- year-old riother to emergency at 1:30 a.m. on March 9. There was one doctor for 25 patients, he said. He came back at noon that day to find his mother on a stretcher in a hallway with three others. Nurses said they were sorry, but. hud to deal with other people. Northcott said many told him to write a letter of complaint. On Tuesday, the patient beside his mother said his mother had suffered a convulsion, but no one on staff had noticed. Later that day. he returned to find his mother had vomited down her side and See Sick mom page 3 MIDLAND _WALWYN BLUE CHIP THINKING™ West Vancouver Office 925-9210 an * MUTUAL FUNDS We manage to outperform Weather Monday: Mix of sun and cioud High 12°C, low 2°C. MIKE NORTHCOTT is upset with what he says are the under-staffed and overcrowded conditions in Lions Gate Hospital that led to his mother’s being placed on a stretcher in the hallway and neglected while in the hospital. Appointed N. Shore Health Board wants status quo to 1999 A REQUEST by the North Shore Health Board to delay board elections for three years is being blasted by local MLAs. By lan Noble News Reporter The board. which wiit gradually assume responsibility for $160 million in health spend- ing on the North Shore, passed a resolution on Feb. 22 asking the health minister to postpone an election scheduled for November 1996 to November 1999, The health board is a 23-member body. It presently inchides 20 appointed sitting members (one resigned. one died and one has yet to be appointed by the Burrard Band). Seven members represent municipalides and school boards. Fourteen members were appoint- ed by Health Minister Paul Ramsey. Two others are supposed to be appointed by local native bands. Seven of the 14 board members appointed by Ramsey are scheduled to be up for elecuon in November. But board chairman = Diana Hutchinson said the board has just developed its organizational structure and would like to get the public more involved and informed before facing any elections, “We are committed to working with the community in all our decision- making. H we do go this fall, that’s fine. We')} be ready to go. But if we had our choice ve would rather wait.” she said. The board awaits the ministry's response. The request has drawn condemnation from local provincial politicians. North Vancouver-Seymour Liberal MLA Dan Jarvis said any delay would contradict the stated reason for the regionalization of health services —- public participation. “tthink that's a lithe bit of bureaucracy look- ing after itself’ he said. “in fact. it’s an insult to the community to even suggest it.” North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA David Schreck said those appoimed should be congrat- ulated, but the elections should go ahead in order to legitimize the decisions taken by the board. West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA David Mitchel! said that with an election looming. the board's request could give the appearance of an attempt to tie the hands of a future health minis- ter. Meanwhile West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Jeremy Dalton said he understands the board's view that the public may not be ready for an election. get BOARD wo Sen ton. Sito. ® Non Shor Hose Support Services - $6,910,000 @ North Store Community Mest! Health Care ~ $4,181,000 © Codorview Lodga - $5,700,000 & § fiemsindes - $30,280,000 @ NEWS graphic Cathieen Powell THE NORTH Shore Health Board is grad- ually assuming responsibility for $160 mitlion in local health spending. index @ Business.................. sear OL BF Crossword... ocecccciseeen AO BB FaSRION ec eeccssecccssnseceeesestmmeee VS @ N. Shore Alert...................... & Talking Personais............... ch.) ce ae A BH TV Listings... IO & Winter Adventure..................26