IHA delays decision to reduce Kaslo ER hours until January 2013
By Nelson Daily Staff
Interior Health has decided to delay its decision to change hours to Victorian Community Health Center Emergency Department to allow further discussion with community representatives on developing a service model that will best meet the needs of the community in the future.
Several members of the newly formed seven member Negotiating Solutions Team, including Kaslo Mayor Greg Lay, met with IHA CEO Dr. Robert Halpenny in Victoria (September 24), to discuss their concerns over the lack of community consultation and their desire to work with IHA to find another way to continue providing adequate emergency room services to the village and surrounding communities of about 2,500 people.
The IHA and Kaslo physicians have now agreed to postpone changes until the end of January 2013 to allow further discussion with community representatives on developing a service model that will best meet the needs of the community in the future.
This change means Interior Health will continue to provide 24/7 emergency services beyond November 2, as physician and nursing staff availability allows.
“Our physicians are dedicated to the provision of accessible and quality care for this community,” said Dr. Alan Stewart, Senior Medical Director for Community and Residential Services.
“While they have made it clear that the current model of coverage is untenable in the long term, we are very pleased that they have committed to additional availability, allowing us to deliberate further with the community.”
The decision to delay the decision does not mean the problem has gone away according to Dr. Stewart.
“This does not mean that the challenges in Kaslo have gone away and there will likely be interruptions in service in the months ahead, but we now have some time to meet with community stakeholders, our physicians and staff about how best to meet Kaslo’s health care needs given the ongoing challenges we are facing,” he said.
Dr. Stewart and Linda Basran, Interior Health’s Community Director, IH East, will be the Interior Health representatives for these discussions and will work with elected officials from Kaslo to determine the next steps.
“Ultimately, Interior Health’s goal is to provide Kaslo residents with a consistent and sustainable service for the long term,” said Basran. ”We look forward to these upcoming discussions and how they may inform our decisions moving forward.”
Staffing levels will remain the same at the health centre while discussions are taking place.
After the meeting in Victoria, Lay told The Nelson Daily the decision to close the ER is closed down to 40 hours a week would be devestating to the village.
“IHA is driving a stake through our economic development,” Lay said. “We’re afraid that if they shut down the ER it will never open again.”
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