Original hospital building dates back to 1929 From page 32 stays. ‘People are in hospital shorter. With the technologies that we can use today, we do considerably more acute care, things that 20 years ago people simply died from, are now things that we can often do on a day-patient visit, just because technology has changed things so dramatically,’’ he said. Smith anticipates that as the trend to shorter hospital stays continues, the hospital will deal primarily with acute illnesses. “Il think people appreciate that the hospital is not a hotel, it’s a fairly complex and expensive organization to just come in and take a hospital bed ad infinitum,”* he said. While the hospital is involved in an ongoing dialogue about the master plan with North Vancouver City, it is meanwhile facing more pressing short-term financial issues. This year is a negotiating year for all hospitai unions and the contracts wili be retroactive to April. “We're trying to provide for those settlements but we have no idea what they'll actually end up being,” he said. As well, this year’s budget did not allow a sufficient amount for the inflationary cost of supplies and medical devices. Smith describes the capital side of the hospital’s budget as ‘teven more of a challenge.” This year the hospital’s $2.3- million capital budget was cut down from $9 million of capital needs identified for such areas as equipment replacement. And each year as the hospital suffers a capital shortfall, the ef- fect becomes cumulative, Smith said. “We're really facing about a $30-million major capital equip- ment needs list right now. Over the next five years we'll need to try to find a way to resolve that. “At the moment it seems a bit of an insurmountable challenge, quite frankly, but if we don't meet needs, it’s like everything else in life: in the end you do the best you can with what you have." “Part of the Communit for 24 years” | ALLIED |, SHIPBUILDERS ESTABLISHED IN 1948 1870 Harbour Road North Vancouver Shipbuilders — Ship Repairers ~— Engineers Wednescay. July 24. 1991 ~ North Shore News - 33 A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR & JACK LOUCKS The City of North Vancouver, through its Coun- cil, staff and citizens, is working hard to keep —_ = : Our Town” a great place in which to live and to work, All of us can take pride in the fact that this municipality provides all ihe amenities of a larger city — the health care, ihe police and fire protection, outdoor and indoor recreational services — while retaining the atmosphere of a smaller town with its family-run businesses and caring residents. Recent achievements which have helped the City to become ap even more desirable place in which to live include: — new and progressive development regulations and procedures — the promotion of solutions fos many social issues — continued improvements to the infrastructure — provision of parking facilities — initiation of 4 waterfront area study — studies undertaken jointly with our neighbouring municipalities to ensure that our transportation system and parks and recreation services meet the needs of the public — an extensive Emergency Preparedness Program —an active Heritage Program tu foster the preservation of examples of our history ~— the establishment of agencivs dedicated to the improvement of the environment through recycling and associated programs, the promction of economic develop- ment and the provision of cultural facilities and opportunities on the North Shore — the continued dedication of our health, police and fire personnel to maintain the safe environment we have come to expect. The quality of life we enjoy in this City 1s made possible by the contributions of hun- dreds of volunteers, the conscientious efforts of our stalf, and the dedication of Council to provide effective government which balances community needs and resources to max- imize the City’s potential. {t is inevitable that the City of North Vancouver will grow and change. Our gaul, and our challenge, is to retain and maintain the desirable qualities that make “Our Town” the great city that it is. You may not know that Seaspan International principal industries and to the expanding economy and Yancouver Shipyards have been family forover — of the province. thirty years, Combine the resources of a modern, Vancouver Shipyards has been in business experienced tug and barge company with those of — even longer, designing, constructing, repairing and a long-establisnea, highly qualified shipyard and maintaining every type of vessel from cargo ships you have strength on your side. to pleasure craft. 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