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British Columbia
VANCOUVER —
We're not gonna
take it anymore The Hospital Employees Union
is getting ready to hit the picket lines in its continuing
contract dispute with the BC government. Spokesperson
Chris Allnutt says the union's 40,000 members are at
boiling point following layoffs, wage cut demands by
management, and two years of bullying which culminated
in the government tearing up their collective agreement.
The union insists that essential services won't be affected
if the strike happens. JH
VANCOUVER —
I thought you were
going to tell them The vice president of research
at UBC has owned up to serious ethical mistakes made
there when clinical drug trials were conducted in early
2002. Dr Indira Samarasekera says the university hospital
realized it had done research without informing patients
of all the possible side effects of the drugs they were
testing. No one was harmed but UBC has now revised patient
consent forms so that they include all potential risks.
PB
Alberta
CALGARY —
Lab results on
the fly Calgary's four hospital emergency departments
have become the first in Canada to provide doctors and
nurses with regional access to online patient lab results.
This technological breakthrough will give physicians
immediate access to clinical information and decrease
delays in decision-making, according to the Calgary
Health Region. In the former paper-based system, lab
results were printed up, posted on a patient's chart,
and viewed at the bedside. GH
CALGARY —
Expecting a CT
stampede A $5 million investment in new diagnostic
imaging technology at the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary
is expected to improve the care of thousands of Albertans
annually. The technology includes the first GE LightSpeed
Pro 16-slice CT scanner to be used in a clinical setting
in the world. Dr Robert Diamond, a radiologist at the
centre, says the new machines will enable physicians
to better diagnose soft tissue, cardiovascular, bone
and joint disorders without invasive surgery. GH
Saskatchewan
SASKATOON —
No money, no operation
In a controversial move, the Saskatoon Health
District ordered surgeons to postpone operations until
the end of March due to money troubles. They dictated
that only operations for cancer, or urgent cardiovascular
or neurological surgeries should be performed between
March 25 and March 31. "It's one thing to talk about
elective or cosmetic surgeries, but it's very troubling
to see that the health region is planning to delay urgent
surgeries," said Rod Gantefoer, an opposition health
critic. Susan Bazylewski of the health district defends
the move, saying it will save $200,000. JH
Manitoba
WINNIPEG —
Help wanted —
fast Manitoba's regional health authorities are
once again struggling to keep their heads above water
as a result of staff shortages and ever-increasing drug
costs. Five of the seven regional health authorities
are expected to be in the red this year, with an estimated
deficit of $3.5 million. The Assiniboine Regional Health
Authority foresees the largest overspend this year,
at $1.5 million. The authorities say the main reason
is nursing shortages, which has an enormous impact on
overtime costs. JH
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Ontario
TORONTO —
Rolling in the
dough Money seems to be the theme du jour at
U of T. Two recent batches of funding are heading to
the coffers of the university: $59.5 million from the
Canada Foundation for Innovation and a $19.9 million
combined handout from Ottawa and the Canadian Institutes
of Health Research (CIHR). Other Ontario universities
and research institutions are to split the $33 million
balance of CIHR funding. JH
OTTAWA —
Surprise, more
delays Plans to build a new psychiatric facility
in Ottawa are at least four months behind schedule.
Construction of the 188-bed, $132-million facility will
now probably only begin in June. Originally, the hospital's
CEO, George Langill, said construction would begin in
late February. The delays will not add to the cost of
the hospital. CS
Quebec
QUEBEC CITY —
Out of the cut
Health Minister Philippe Couillard put on his surgeon's
hat to speak out against the so-called 'too posh to
push' movement. Mr Couillard, a father of five, said
he found the idea of C-sections on demand unethical.
He was responding to reports that the ethics committee
of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of
Canada is considering allowing women to seek a C-section
without any apparent medical reason. TT
QUEBEC CITY —
Blame the
old, unions Jean Charest's government has announced
a $1 billion tax cut, and healthcare is cruising for
a bruising. The Finance Minister hopes to make up the
shortfall by squeezing more cash out of the feds, and
by cutting tax breaks to the rich, reorganizing the
family allowance system, and pushing through unpopular
legislation making it easier to contract out healthcare
workers and restructure health sector unions. "Our ageing
population" was also named as a budgetary offender.
TT
New Brunswick
FREDERICTON —
Same difference
The provincial government announced changes to
hospital operations in an effort to maintain services
on the Acadian Peninsula. The hospital in Tracadie-Sheila
will take over care for acute patients and provide 24-hour
emergency services; Caraquet's hospital will be downgraded
to a 12-hour clinical facility; and the Chaleur Regional
Hospital in Bathurst will take the patients who need
surgery involving general anaesthesia. Health and Wellness
Minister Elvy Robichaud said these changes would come
into effect once ambulance services are restructured.
JC
Nova Scotia
HALIFAX —
Bluenosers munch
too much A study by the Canadian Institute for
Health Information has found that Nova Scotians are
at highest risk for obesity among Canadians. The province
weighs in with an average BMI of 30 or over, at least
double the national average of 25.55. Children make
up the largest proportion of the overweight population.
Failure to curb young waistlines heralds "huge problems
... in terms of chronic disease," warns NDP health critic
Maureen McDonald. BH
HALIFAX — Prisoner
sues over healthcare A prisoner charged with
first-degree murder charge is suing the jail and two
doctors for lack of treatment, contending that he's
not received the healthcare he needs to defend himself.
The man, who's been incarcerated for the past three
and a half years, insists that disabling pain from a
chronic back injury hasn't been treated because correctional
authorities consider his ailment as an excuse to get
drugs. BH
Contributors:
Paula Baker, Gail Helgason, Jacqui Clydesdale,
Toss Taylor, Bill McGuire, Brian Hoyle,
Deanna Stokes-Sullivan, John Hewson, Jane George, Carla Sparks
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