Time to get the ball rolling
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
The ball is about to start rolling for the new hospital project in Burns Lake ... if not from the Governments end then definitely from the Burns Lake end.
A total of approximately $3.8 million is proposed to be used from the Stuart Nechako Hospital District 'replacement project' funds to carry out a design phase project which will bring the new Lakes District hospital a half step closer to coming to fruition.
While it may sound like a giant leap of faith on behalf of those making the decision to go ahead with funding the project there are positives in taking the first step.
If and when the Government gives the go ahead for the hospital much of the ground work will have already be done and valuable time will have been saved.
The Government can also see that the Lakes District is serious about the need for the new hospital, shelling out $3.8 million dollars to have the project designed and ready should give Government officials with their hand over the cheque book an inkling that the people of Burns Lake are ready to go and are serious.
The 'in the works' hospital project may also help to retain the doctors that we have, as well as attract new ones to the area.
According to Eileen Benedict, B.C.'s heath minister Kevin Falcon was shocked at the state of the hospital when he was shown some indicative photographs.
I wonder if Falcon would feel comfortable having his family living in a community without enough doctors and surgeons to go around.
Relying on a hospital that is not able to deliver babies and a hospital that needs repairs and equipment .... probably not, but it is something that the people relying on the Lakes District Hospital has lived with on a daily basis.
The old adage ... it you build it, they will come, seems to hold some weight when talking about a hospital and medical staff retention.
Of course medical staff will want to work in the newest of hospitals, along with new walls, floors and layouts comes new technologies that will not only make the doctors lives easier, but patients too.
Sandra Harwood, Mayor of Fort St. James came out with all guns blazing at a recent Regional District of Bulkley Nechako meeting that was attended by Michael McMillan, Northern Health's chief operating officer.
Harwood's support for the new hospital project in Burns Lake is admirable, particularity when the community of Fort St. James is also requesting a new hospital to be built.
The downside to getting the ball rolling is that if the Government decides not to go ahead with the new hospital, the community is $3.8 million down.
Maybe the pictures that were shown to Falcon should be shown to more Government representatives ... the ball may roll faster still.
–Rebecca Billard
v2
