Report on Surrey Memorial must be released

November 25, 2005

VICTORIA – The Minister of Health must release the Fraser Health Authority's fast-tracked report on the challenges and future of Surrey Memorial Hospital to the public, Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley said today.

"The public needs to see the full and report and the recommendations contained in it," said Ralston. "We know that the Minister of Health has been in possession of this report for over a month – what is he waiting for?"

The government announced a fast-tracked report into the challenges facing Surrey Memorial Hospital during the election. And the Minister is already on record promising to act on the recommendations in the report by the end of the year.

"The Minister has one month left to keep his promise, and still the public has been allowed to review the recommendations from the Health Authority," said Ralston. "This government does not have a good track record for keeping its promises, and I am concerned that Surrey Memorial will not get the attention it needs without public pressure on the Minister to act."

Jagrup Brar, MLA for Surrey-Panorama Ridge, agrees that the report needs to be released in full, and points to the deep cuts to acute care beds being one area the report should have important recommendations to consider.

"Clearly the deep cuts to acute care beds in Surrey and surrounding communities are having a negative impact on our health care system, and people are suffering as a result," said Brar.

Brar pointed to the tragic death of Mr. Baljit Bains earlier this year, and said we must learn from these terrible tragedies to ensure patients get the care they need.

The coroner's report in the death of Mr. Bains sites that hospital staff tried for two days to find Mr. Bains and Intensive Care bed without success.

"It was a mistake for this government to cut cares beds in the fastest growing region of the province," said Brar. "The Minister of Health needs to act quickly to restore these cuts and seriously consider the recommendations coming from the report on Surrey Memorial Hospital."