This is but one example of the problems that exist in the current health care system. And with the provincial government announcing cuts rather than increases in funding, the problem is only going to get worse. Where do you think we'll be in ten years when the boomers put additional stress on the system? In my opionion, it boils down to 'you can pay me now, or you can pay me later'. And it seems clear to me that the longer we wait to address the problem the more expensive it will be to fix it. Why aren't the politicians acting NOW?
Here's an excerpt from CBC...
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With files from the CBC's Stephanie Mercier and Kirk Williams
Doctors say a recent fire safety violation points to the need to address the causes behind a potentially dangerous overcrowding problem in Vancouver General Hospital's emergency room. A city fire inspector issued VGH a notice in March saying too many stretchers were crowding the hallways and creating a fire hazard.
One emergency room doctor said the problem could threaten lives.
"The department is so crowded that in the event of an emergency such as a fire, there's not proper egress space available for patients to leave the department," said Dr. Kevin Clark.
"The first solution is to share the overcrowding equally throughout the hospital," said Dr. Jill McEwen. "Rather than leave 50 patients in the emergency department, if two of those patients went to each ward… that would immediately eliminate the access block in the emergency."
But the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority said it has eliminated the fire hazard in the VGH emergency room by moving extra stretchers into an area near the vending machines as well as the waiting room.
Spokesperson Anna Marie D'Angelo also said the hospital could always use more doctors, but the authority has to work within the restrictions of its agreement with the B.C. health ministry.
"The ratio of doctors is… established in that agreement and it's something that the provincial government would need to change for it to change at VGH," said D'Angelo.
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