-LGH MOVES TOWARD PROVINCIAL PLAN
_ FOR 36 - HOUR WORK WEEK!

Robert]. Smith.
President o CEO .,

ada has been, under review -
‘for the past everal years,”
bringing | to the foreground how

Xs

é aces view. their health system,

aes next, 3 years, the prc
working towards | downsizing the
acute can hospital services in the -.
rovinice by 10%. -This downsizing is

cee ay tc make more eee

‘One of the first steps itt curbing”
‘costs was the development of.
the Tentative Framework Accord, a
“Jabour, relations document which
included a a design to reduce the work
eek from 37.5 hours to 36 hours. The

_ rs. Bennett
Mrs. Bennett's Story

think that mammography
saved my life!", says Mrs.
Bennett, a resident of West
: Vancouver who was recently
» diagnosed as having breast cancer.
A tumor was detected at a very early
stage and consequently was easily
treated. She accidently found out
- about the tumor when her family
physician recommended a
mammogram as part of a routine
check-up. After the lump was.
‘detected, she had a biopsy, and it was
removed: Mrs. Bennett said that she
found the experience of screening
mammography painless and more
comfortable than what she had

issue of a shorter work week for hospital

~ employees i is not new. The: unions have >

been requesting parity with government .”
. employees for many years. The introduc: .
~’ tion of the 36 hour work week is a: :

a “ province-wide solution, intended to be.

the first of a Series of steps toreduce .
hospital costs ‘while bringing hospital”

Jabour contracts i in line a other

“What docs this mean n fot Lions Gate.
“Hopital

Ati is not: a siniple matter to reduce’ °
employees’ shifts, as many hospital.
"services are provided.7 days a week, 24
hours a day. In the Tentative Framework

-Accord, an arbitrator recommended -

several options. The one chosen by Lions
Gate Hospital is referred to as the 1 in 5

-- solution, whereby the non-urgent services’
. of the hospital are closed for 1 day every"
“5 weeks. In other’ words, hospital -
“employees continue to work their regular

shifts for the majority of the year and take _

/10 Fridays a year off without pay.
- There will be no change in how
- emergency § services are provided. People

requiring immediate attention will |. ae

The Program

The Screening Mammography Program
of B.C. was established in 1988 by a
Provincial Health Ministry Grant, and the
centre in Lions Gate Hospital started in
November of 1992. The intent of the
program is to reduce mortality from .
breast cancer by detecting it at an early
stage when prognosis is excellent.

150 Lives Saved

When fully implemented, the Program :
hasa potential for reducing lives lost to

breast cancer in B.C. by one-third, which
translates to 150 lives per year in today's

receive the same quality of care, and
Staffing levels will remain the same as
‘always in these areas. - ‘
Some outpatient services, elective :
‘services and daycare services will be
closed on the 10 unpaid Fridays a year.
: These dates will be November 12 and -
"December 17; 1993. In 1994, the dates’
" will be January 21, February 25, March
25, May 6, June 10, July 15, August 19,
, October 28, and December 2:

How, will this affect yout :

It is our sincere e hope that thisiew |:
schedule wiil have very littlé impact on
_ the people we serve. When outpatient
and elective appointments are booked,

_ they will continue to be made for the:

: "soonest possible d date. We anticipate that

. some waiting lists for procédures may /
lengthen, however the people who will

have to wait a bit longer for service will °°.

‘be the people who are not in an urgent
or emergent situation. We have also -
decided to extend the hours of our -

:. operating rooms one day a ‘week, and.

hours in the operating rooms over the
schoo) Spring Break will not be reduced
sin previous years.

figures. The Program also has a
potential to reduce future health care
costs, since early detection allows more
conservative and less costly therapy.
This is a free diagnostic service
provided by Ministry of Health funding
and is the most cost effective and
efficient way to provide screening
mammography to large numbers of
women, Women can refer themselves by
calling the clinic directly at 984 - 5714. :
A Breast Self Exam Teaching Clinic also
runs at Lions Gate Hospital every
Tuesday and Thursday. For
appointments call 925 - 1952.
Remember, if detected early, breast
cancer can be treated successfully!

| ,
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t

THANK YOU
to’all participants, sponsors,
.-. and volunteers for. making ;
' this first event such. a a great

success!

_ BREAST CANCER.
_ PUBLIC FORUM

; “A Positive ‘Approach to
A Commion Disease” is the
theme for a ‘free public
forum to be held at the
Centennial Theatre on
Wednesday, October 20, .
7:30-10:00 pm.

There will be a
multidisciplinary panel of
experts,. women with
personal experience with
breast cancer, and lots of; :
opportunity for questions.
The evening is jointly -
sponsored by the .
Canadian Cancer Society
and theLions Gate Hi ospital.
Advance tickets are
available at Centennial
Theatre. .

Call: 984 - 4484 -