AlO - Friday, September 7, 1984 - North Shore News CROSS-FIRE Nobody’s refused a hospital bed By JOANNE MacDONALD WITH THE impilementa- tion of the new Canada Health Act, hospital user fees have again emerged as an issue. David Schreck, manag- er of CU and C Health Services, says hospital user fees are a regressive form of taxation. John Reynolds, for West Vancouver- Howe Sound, says hospital user fees act, in some cases, aS a deterrent to people who might misuse the system. MLA ‘“‘L certainly am in favor of hospital user fees. They pay only a minute percentage of the overall costs of the medi- cal system. The average member of the public doesn’t object to them. ‘‘T also feel they’re a deterrent to some people for misuse of the system. ‘‘In B.C. we have good quality medical care and it’s one of the cheapest quality medical systems around. ‘‘As far as it being a tax on the poor, the hospital user fees are varied according to the ability of a person to pay. Anyone on. welfare or social assistance doesn’t have to pay or the fees are picked up by the gov- ernment. ‘“‘Nobody’s refused a hospital bed if they can’t pay. They’re not told, ‘We can’t give you a bed, go die somewhere else.’ “Now with a new fed- eral government in, we opposing views on the issues of the day will probably be re- negotiating the system. The Liberal government has been supported by the NDP and they have steadily lowered their contributions to medical care since it was set up years ago. Every year their actual percentage has gone down and costs have gone up. **The Conservative par- ty has tried for years to bring in changes but haven't been successful. Now with a majority they may be able to do some- thing. “‘“Compiaints from nit- wits hike Schreck are nothing new. | don’t see the government raising hospital user fees im- mediately. But this gov- ernment is not afraid to make decisions like that. “‘T would say the average person in_ the streets is very happy with our medical system and we've had no complaints to speak of.’’ A regressive form of taxation “B.C. and Quebec are the only provinces in the country where there is no extra billing, however, B.C. is the only province that charges a per diem hospital user fee. “The provincial ernment firmly believes that hospital user fees discourage the abuse of hospitals. That is com- pletely illogical because translated that means that healthy people are tying up our hospitals. You don’t get into a hospital unless you’re admitted by gov- a physician and you don’t get out unless you're discharged by a _ physi- cian. ‘“*What the $8.50 a day charge does 1s create an extremely regressive form of taxation. It's essential- ly a tax on sick people. And it’s been proven that low income people have the most use of hospitals. If they can’t pay their debts to the hospitals, they’re eventually turned over to collection agen- cies. This, in turn, could spoil their credit ratings. ‘‘Hospital beds cost an average of $300 per day. The user fee is less than three per cent of that ac- tual cost, which comes from general taxation. So it’s administratively inef- ficient to collect that 97 © per cent, and then to set up a whole bureaucracy to collect that other three per cent. It’s a complete waste of resources and we could use the money to pay for more nurses or programs. ‘‘Prror to the federal 1977, when government cost-shared with the pro- vincial government, the province was penalized 50 cents for every dollar col- lected in user fees. But since the federal gov- ernment went to block funding, the significance is that user fees have in- creased steadily in this province from $1 per day up to $8.50 per day. ‘*Now with the Canada Health Act, the penalty has been re-impased, with the province being charg- ed $1 for every dollar col- lected in user fees. As a JOHN REYNOLDS DAVID SCHRECK result, the federal subsidy is basically being lost by the province.”’ HE federal election eee Candidates are ‘surprised disappointed, vindicated’ NDP CANDIDATE David Schreck was surpris- ed, Liberal candidate disappointed and lona Campagnolo was re-elected Conservative MP Chuck Cook felt vindicated following the results of the federal general election Tuesday in North Vancouver. Burnaby Pundits had predicted a close race between the in cumbent and Campagnolo, particularly following the 1980 election in which Cook defeated popular Liberal candidate Gordon Gibson by only 1,500 votes. Said Cook following his Wictdry: ‘'l have no intention of kicking Ms Campagnolo when she's down But the key factor involved ino the campaign was certainly part of the mood of the country , certainly the leadership, cet tainly the demand = § for change, which did reflect in this riding And despite the high profile of the president ot the Liberal party, they've (Constituents) had a member who's) worked pretty hard for them 7 He added he would not be lobbying for cabinet post “You don't lobby tor cab met posts You sit by the telephone and hope ato rings Pd like almost anything cx cept) Minister of thank you Cook said Schreck, any particular binanec very mach meanwhile, was By JOANNE MacDONALD surprised he did not Campagnolo in the polls “That's not to be critical of lona. But after ail the canvassing and the work we did, I'm really surprised that we didn't do significantly better I’m really concerned in terms of my credibility. 1 told people that |] was the challenger to Cook But at turned out that | was wrong,” said Schreck ‘' don't know if tt was a last minute shift to the Liberals due to Turner or what But 1 knew tt would be a real upset to beat Cook "' According to Schreck, the NDP managed to pick up an extra | OOO) votes 19RBO electhon He overall Campaign, Pass over the added the both on a national and bocal Jlevel, gained credibility for the NDP “Po don't think there was so much of a shift as yust oa tenewal of the basi com mitment that's there And you have to add the act that certainlyetht | Campaign thas AMBLESIDE HOBBIES & CRAFTS 425 Marine Dr. West Van 922-3512 m6 .days a week 230-6 pm. Ed Broadbent ran was flawiess,’’ said Schreck. ‘‘l think whoever the Liberals GRACIOUS IN: defeat, Liberals. ther tame was up and they were goime, ta go one way or the other" Detcated but not down Campagnolo said in an in tervicw Tucsday that ‘as a would have tun, rational moderate, | accept it. 1 think it’s a great respon- sibility that’s been given to Mr Mulroney and his peo ple and they have to address the responsibility very, shortly very } wish them well and offer sincere Congratulations to Mr © ook 7 B.C. School of Log Building Bopt. 30th to Oct 6th. 1984 Sem epeces etl availablo Intensive inatruction in all aspecta of log building From chainsaw teohniquers for notuhes beams & grooves window & door tnetalladion wiring plumbing. wood preservation roof eupport ayetome Internationally recognined etandardse of tuition Phone for dotails (604) 674-3657 She blamed disorganization of the the Liberal party for a large part NEWS photo Terry Peters fona Campagnolo had praise ‘for Chuck Cook and a message for of the Tory landslide, but said her own campaign was ‘tan honorable one.”’ ““‘We didn’t have any under-the-table or underhanded activities on our side and I’m proud ot that. I’ve used it as an occa. sion to teach a lot of the Young people the politcal life and (o hopefully bring them along into anew generation, said (am pagnolo ‘I’m also” very happy because four women were elected in our party "' Campagnolo said she plans to return fullime to her duties as party president in order to prepare for the teform convention of 1984 which, she said, wall take on More significance as a resull Of Tuesday's election results She tefused to predict when the Liberals would return to power “Tt wall depend on a loc of human factors and a lot ot dynanues of individual party Members But owe ate oa unified party and we will come back.’’ said © am pagnolo “0 7a. delivered Cunder 6 yds. extra cartage) a ieee ONLY, me