To the Editor,
Re: Critics say care model fails patients, April 8.
How did we get so far off the mark? When did it become acceptable to discount the importance of quality control that affects those we love the most?
It was 2002, and the government-sanctioned act was named The Health and Social Services Improvement Delivery Act. Yes, that fifth word is improvement, not impoverished. Moving along into 2003 we have The Health Sector Partnership Agreement, and just so you know, you are not the partner, but for-profit businesses are. They are the contractors chosen to deliver various services in healthcare facilities. The original public model was disassembled and put back together again like a poorly connected jigsaw puzzle.
In Nanaimo at Wexford Creek, the term quality of life has taken a firm backseat to the inauspicious drone of the words ‘cost cutting.’ Cost-cutting, that is, for those at the very bottom of the pay scale. These individuals, unlike Island Health executives, directly relate to and care for Wexford’s seniors each day.
If we start to believe that contracting out things like housekeeping and nutrition as well as paying health care aides less is wise streamlining, we are buying a warped bill of goods.
The seniors at Wexford deserve so much more, as do our own parents and grandparents.
Lisa Kerryvia e-mail