10 — Sunday, May 2, 1999 - North Shore News Added funds to help trim list by 20% Brady Fotheringham Contributing Writer THE North Shore Health Region will reduce the waiting time for those expecting surgery at Lions Gate Hospital, according to its new budget released on Wednesday night. The current surgical wait- list varies from three months to a year and with the infusion of $400,000, the North Shore Health Region board plans to reduce thar by 20%. The waitlist for surgery at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) has doubled in the fast four years to over 3,500 people as of the end of March. For the first time since 1994 that trend will be reversed. “It’s probably going to take a couple of years to reduce the wait-list. Maybe by next spring we can bring it down more,” said Elaine Baxter, vice-president of the board’s Acute Care Services. “This should keep a lid on it.” Baxter said the board couldn’t reduce the wait-list any further for the upcoming fiscal year given current finan- cial and staffing limitations. The health region plans to reduce the demands on surgery and hospital beds by limiting the seasonal closure of operating rooms, providing $455,000 for additional nurs- ing positions and funding for a third neurosurgeon. Although surgical proce- dures decreased during the past nwo years, most of that can be attributed to the ongo- ing Reduced Activity Days by B.C. physicians, job action at Lions Gate and a nation-wide nursing shortage. Dr. Jim Lane, president of the British Columbia Medical Association, isn’t optimistic that a reduction in wait-list times in Lower Mainland hos- pitals will alleviate doctors’ concerns over the current labour dispute with Victoria. “The reduction is obvious- ly a positive sign and positive tinding,” Lane said. He questioned whether one community successfully addressing the issue of back- logs for acute and residential care beds would similarly affect other communities. “E suspect they’re (North Shore Health Region) trying to target the worst arca vut I would not be optimistic that it would impact other regions. “All you’re doing _ is evening out the waiting list. Any initiative to shorten wait- lists in onc community dovs- n’t necessarily get rid of wait- lists in others,” Lane said North Shore Health Region board chairman Len Kelsey stressed at the board BUSINESS." 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The life expectancy of North Shore residents is two years above the provincial average, according ta Kelsey, and North Shore residents over the age of 80 will double in number over the next sever- al years. All this puts a strain on a health care system serv- ing 176,000 people in the North Shore region — an area that had 48,000 cmergency visits last year. Lions Gate Hospital is still hoping for its first. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine if the provincial gov- ernment grants an additional $7.6 million. The health region’s proposed budget is awaiting approval from = the Ministry of Health in Victoria. The North Shore Heaith Region is asking the provincial government for $185.4 mil- lion for the upcoming year’s budget. Included in the budget is: @ $68.9 million for the oper- ation of Lions Gate Hospital acute Zare services; @ $46.5 million tor residential care, which includes Evergreen House, Cedarview lodge and the North Shore Kiwanis care centre; @ $21.5 million tor commu- nity health initiatives such as home care, home support and community programs. ith region to cut Lions Gate wait-lists The remaining $48.4 mil- lion is slated for mental health care and suppert services. Mental health = care includes substance abuse pro- grams and psychiatry. Support services include the mainte- nance and infrastructure of buildings along with some equipment. How far will you walk in your life? em ib #£+—€@6b «& OE taf Te RD Ke THE AVERAGE PERSON WALKS 184,000 KM IN THEIR LIFETIME We welcome you toa clinic near you for a ten minute computerized! git and pressure analysis test. 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