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British Columbia
DELTA
— Call
someone who cares As part of their ongoing battle
to reverse government cutbacks, Delta Hospital has set
up a hotline to encourage people to share their hospital
experiences. The city of Delta believes the cuts made
by the Fraser Health Authority, including the closure
of special care units and acute care beds, have damaged
the quality of services at the hospital. Claiming the
cutbacks breach the Health Act, they've already begun
legal proceedings against the health authority. PB
VANCOUVER
— The
gift of sight After three months of consultation,
the BC government has taken the bold step to give their
plan to allow opticians to do eye testing on healthy
adults the go-ahead. BC will be the only jurisdiction
in North America to allow non-optometrists the ability
to prescribe corrective lenses. The new regulations
will make it more convenient for patients, says Health
Service Minister Colin Hansen. PB
Alberta
EDMONTON
— Ch-ch-changes
Major changes in the way Alberta's orthopedic surgeons
work are expected this fall in Edmonton and Calgary.
Under the new system, potential surgery patients will
be assessed by a centralized intake clinic and assigned
to various surgeons. Surgeons are keen on participating
in the pilot project, says Dr Don Dick, president of
the Alberta Orthopedic Society. It's hoped that the
new system will reduce waiting times by two-thirds.
GH
EDMONTON
— Rare
$$ boost The province will cover the costs of
a new and expensive enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry
disease. Health Canada recently approved the treatment
for the rare, life-threatening genetic condition; eight
Albertans have been receiving the therapy free during
clinical trials. Health Minister Gary Mar says the province
will cover the costs until the therapy has undergone
a standard review to determine if it will be added to
the list of covered therapies. GH
Saskatchewan
SASKATOON
— Not
fast enough Lorraine Morrison, the wife of elderly
stroke victim Ben Morrison, has made a plea to the Saskatoon
Health Region to reinstate ER doctor, Dr Jon Witt. Dr
Witt was demoted after blowing the whistle on the slow
response times at the hospital. She says her husband's
condition is a living example of what Dr Witt was referring
to. Ms Morrison blames the permanent damage suffered
by her husband on the slow care he received in the ER
of the city's Royal University Hospital. CS
REGINA
— A
modest proposal A proposal that seniors should
"Die quicker" has landed NDP backbencher Judy Junor
in trouble. Her solution to the government's looming
long-term care costs has caught her a lot of flak from
the opposition and caused a mild media storm on the
prairie. Ms Junor explained that she didn't mean that
the elderly should die sooner, rather that they should
make the appropriate lifestyle changes in order to live
longer and healthier lives; by "die quicker" she says
she meant not lingering on in poor health. CS
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Manitoba
WINNIPEG —
Another
one bites the dust
Winnipeg's heart surgery program was dealt a critical
blow this week when yet another surgeon handed in his
resignation. Dr John Preachell has decided to leave
his post on June 30 for personal reasons. This will
leave only four cardiac surgeons to operate on the 1,300
heart-surgery patients seen annually in the province.
The program has come under scrutiny in the past few
years because of waiting times. CS
Ontario
HAMILTON —
Retro surgeon
is third time unlucky A
third class-action lawsuit on behalf of 93 women has
been filed against Dr Salim Daya and the Hamilton hospital
where he works. Dr Daya, an ob/gyn specializing in infertility
and multiple miscarriages, is accused of using an obsolete
technique called Tompkins metroplasty to cut and reshape
the uterus. A less invasive form of metroplasty that
employs a scope replaced the procedure 20 years ago.
CS
TORONTO —
Don't tax
my fat Poverty
activists and fast food retailers have kicked up enough
of a stink to halt plans by the McGuinty government
to impose an 8% sales tax on meals under four dollars.
The fast food tax was aimed at promoting healthier eating
habits among Ontarians. Tory critics claim that Premier
McGuinty bowed to pressure from the restaurant lobby.
CS
Quebec
MONTREAL —
Spit shine
not good enough Two
large Montreal hospitals recalled close to 300 hip replacement
patients after discovering that the surgical instruments
used in their operations weren't properly sterilized.
It has now emerged that some 10 to 15 other hospitals
in the province may have to do the same. Authorities
blame hospital workers who weren't trained to sterilize
the drill used during the procedure, but stress that
the risk of infection is low. CS
SHERBROOKE — Dedicated
followers of smoking A
new study released by the Quebec Cancer Society shows
that cancer cases in the province are 10% above the
national average. Lifestyle choices, such a smoking,
are being blamed. The society has asked the provincial
government to spend more money on the problem —
Quebec is the only province without an agency dedicated
exclusively to fighting cancer. CS
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