The recently released report on Burnaby Hospital blames the Fraser Health Authority for the hospital's woes instead of the B.C. Health Ministry, according to local New Democrat MLA Kathy Corrigan.
"That's exactly what the report has done, it comes down hard on the Fraser Health Authority," Corrigan said in an interview with the NOW.
According to the Burnaby-Deer Lake MLA, the Liberals on the public consultation committee were planning to blame the Fraser Health Authority for the hospital's problems instead of the provincial Health Ministry, which allocates funding for health authorities.
The committee was tasked with gathering public input on what should be done with Burnaby Hospital, a seismically unsound and aging facility plagued with C. difficile outbreaks that have led to the deaths of some patients.
"We had a report 11 years ago that said Burnaby Hospital was in dire shape, seismically fragile and needs to be rebuilt, and we've had 11 years, and nothing has happened," Corrigan said. "And their report reflects again that Burnaby Hospital has been neglected, and it has been starved in terms of programs and resources. I don't care at this point about the petty politics that has gone on behind the scenes to score political points, but what I do care about is that the government gets on with it and builds a new hospital."
The "petty politics" Corrigan is referring to centre on leaked documents that suggest the committee was using the hospital issue and public consultation process as a means to boost the Liberals' standing in Burnaby and de-seat Corrigan in the next election.
The committee was led by Burnaby's two Liberal MLAs - Harry Bloy and Richard Lee - as well as citizen chair Pamela Gardner, an avid Liberal supporter.
"The report is entirely tainted by the fact that it's politically motivated and has political instruction attached as to what the outcome would be," Corrigan said.
Corrigan is also calling for a new hospital to be built, yet the 141-page report, released Friday morning, states that a new facility will not solve all of Burnaby Hospital's problems.
"We absolutely need a new hospital," Corrigan said. "There's a Fraser Health document from 11 years ago, it says in no uncertain terms that the hospital needs to be torn down and rebuilt, and there's been no action."
All criticism aside, Corrigan said the report was "not completely useless" because there were members of the public submitting their suggestions in good faith.
Bloy, on the other hand, said the report was a great report, prepared by local citizens who volunteered for months.
"They care about Burnaby. There was no special interest. They went out, and they listened to the public. I believe the report stands on its own. The report is a good report, it's a reflection of where Burnaby Hospital is at the present time. All of the citizens that worked on it, that volunteered on this report, want better health care," he said.
When asked about the leaked committee correspondence and the criticism that this was just a political exercise to curry favour with the public, Bloy responded by saying, "Look at the report. The report is a very good report that was produced by volunteers, saying the state of the hospital. I stand by the report that went out."
Lee said the report was a reflection of what the committee members have heard in public meetings in Burnaby and East Vancouver.
"I think it's a very good report and a very good summary," he said.
As for Corrigan's call for a new hospital, Lee said he thinks that decision should be left to the Health Ministry and the Fraser Health Authority.
"I think the Fraser Health Authority will take this citizens' report into consideration, and the Fraser Health Authority will reflect that in their long-term process," he said.
Regarding the committee's leaked emails, Lee said some members were overly enthusiastic about the project.
Much of the hospital was built 60 years ago. The report, which contained statements and presentations from Burnaby residents, Burnaby Hospital doctors and nurses, as well as other experts and stakeholders, gave examples of many of the problems plaguing the departments at the hospital.
The committee conducted its public consultations over the summer, and the report was released to Fraser Health and the Health Ministry. Fraser Health is now working on a master plan for the possible expansion or replacement of the hospital.
