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Hot Spot
British Columbia
OR overhaul causes
delays
VANCOUVER —
Many surgeons in BC are being forced to perform more
than half of their day surgeries at private clinics
because of operating rooms renovations at the University
of BC Hospital (UBCH). The renovations are to accommodate
the new Centre for Surgical Innovation, whose aim is
to cut wait times for joint surgery. The Campbell Liberals
forked over $25 million to help the UBCH handle and
extra 1,600 joint replacement procedures in two dedicated
ORs. The hospital was forced to renovate to make room
for the onslaught of new procedures. It will also have
to outsource more than 3,200 surgeries, which could
have otherwise been done at the UBCH. LD
Alberta
Harper admonishes
AB reforms
EDMONTON —
Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned the Alberta government
to keep its reforms within the framework of the Canada
Health Act, in a three-page letter. The PM expressed
his disapproval of physicians working in both the public
and private systems, suggesting that this conflict of
interest would bleed physicians from the public system
and only those with the most financial resources would
have medical access. Additionally, Mr Harper opposed
Alberta's plans to limit any services covered by public
health insurance. GE
Saskatchewan
More autism funding
needed
REGINA —
The union that represents more than 2,700 healthcare
professionals wants the province to increase funding
for services for the autistic. The union, the Health
Sciences Association of Saskatchewan, placed ads in
the Leader Post and the Star Phoenix asking
the public to help lobby the government to improve diagnostic
and treatment services for kids with autism and related
disorders. Long wait lists, limited treatment services
and large workloads have left most of those who work
with the autistic frustrated and discouraged. TJ
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Manitoba
ER doc dearth
BRANDON —
The Brandon Regional Health Authority (RHA) hasn't been
able to recruit any new emergency physicians to the
area, according to the RHA spokesperson Carmel Olson.
The area has suffered through a serious doctor shortage
but prospects in other specialties are looking up. Two
new pediatricians will be coming to town and two foreign-trained
ob/gyns and one anesthetist are undergoing assessment
for their Manitoba licenses. HA
Hot
Spot
Ontario
Uncouth MD seeks
clemency
TORONTO —
Dr Charles Nicholas Rathe is hoping to appeal a one-year
suspension being thrown at him by the Ontario College
of Physicians, for yelling and hurling abuses like "f—-
you" and "you small-minded small-town people" at his
patients. The college believes the good doctor is an
"ungovernable physician." But Dr Rathe's lawyer Roy
Stephenson has some 200 patient tributes that prove
otherwise; some patients go as far as calling the Belle
River physician "inspiring" and "kind." Mr Stephenson
argues that his client suffers from opiate addiction
and is seeking professional help for his condition.
He proposes that Dr Rathe be allowed to continue practicing
under the direction of a college-approved physician.
JJM
FHTs
offer 'extra' services
TORONTO —
Progressive Conservative Health critic Elizabeth Witmer
told the Ontario legislature that patients using the
new Family Health Teams (FHTs) have access to services
like physiotherapy, diabetes management and healthcare
prevention that are not publicly insured. She added
that other Ontarians not using an FHT would have to
pay out-of-pocket for these services. Health and Long-Term
Care Minister George Smitherman defended the FHTs by
noting the needs of patients differ and it's appropriate
to rally to assist [those with diabetes] because their
needs are greater. JJM
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