(Editor’s note: The following article mentions matters of concern to residents of the entire Greater Campbell River Health Area, which includes Cortes, Quadra and other Discovery Islands.)
The Comox-Strathcona Regional Hospital District board (CSRHB) wants consultation of clinical pathology samples to remain in the Comox and Campbell River hospitals. It notified Island Health, twice, and received no answer. Now, with the current pathology contracts coming up for renewal at the end of this month, the hospital board fears Island Health is ignoring local wishes to retain pathology services.
Board Motion To Not Be Included
“We are blessed to have Brenda Leigh (Oyster Bay – Buttle Lake) and Jim Abram (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets) on that Board! The meeting no sooner got underway when Brenda asked if there was any response to the letters … [the board sent] Island Health. The answer was no,” wrote Lois Jarvis of Citizens for Quality Health Care.
Leigh then brought forward the following motion, which was passed at the February 27, 2020 Board meeting:
“THAT due to the fact that the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District Board has requested since November 2019 to not be included in the Vancouver Island Clinical Pathologists Consulting Corporation (VICPCC) contract, the board requests that pathology services be reinstated and that no changes be made to include the North Island Hospitals in the VICPCC contract;”
“AND FURTHER THAT Island Health be requested to meet at the soonest opportunity to further discuss this matter.”
Island Health Writes Campbell River Mirror
While he may not have responded to the hospital board, Dr. David Robertson, Executive Medical Director, Laboratory Medicine, Island Health recently wrote the Campbell River Mirror:
“ … Island Health has not and does not intend to remove pathology labs and services from either North Island Hospital campus. Locally based pathologists remain under contract to work within Island Health’s North Island Hospital campuses and continue to provide valuable local services.The only recent change to local services occurred in April 2019, when the consultation of clinical pathology samples in Campbell River was transferred to pathologists working within Island Health hospitals in Nanaimo and Victoria.”
Notes From The Meeting
According to Lois Jarvis’ notes from the Feb 27 Board Meeting:
“Leigh pointed out that Island Health has had 4 months to respond to their letter. Director Jim Abram pointed out he had already made a motion for a follow-up to Island Health for a response.”
“There was discussion and Director Jim Abram strongly supported the motion conveying the urgency of fixing this before March 31st contracts were up. He said time was of the essence.”
“Doug Hillian (Courtenay) and Noba Anderson (Cortes Island) said they were uncomfortable about getting involved in contracts and said it is not within their mandate. Director Andy Adams (Campbell River) said he wished to see a meeting with Island Health and the Chair and a presentation from Island Health to show exactly with full transparency what they plan for a contract and how it would impact the hospital. He also said we should ask that no contract be signed until Island Health outlines everything first. Doug Hillian saw no point in sending another letter and Administrator Jake asked if the motion should be withdrawn.
“Director Jim Abrams agreed there should be no signing of a contract until they find out what is to be proposed. He said it is difficult and expensive to get out of a contract and wanted VIHA to hold off, no signature, no contract until complete disclosure. Director Jim Abram and Director Colleen Evans (Campbell River) said they want everything in writing. Director Jim Abrams asked for a vote on the motion.”
Final Vote
Correction: As I have, at this point, heard two conflicting first hand accounts about the ensuing vote, I have to fall back upon the hospital board minutes. They simply state the motion “carried.”
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