South Okanagan - Similkameen Regional Hospital Board Chairman Walter Despot brought a motion for support to the regional district board regarding a developing crisis in the emergency department of the South Okanagan Hospital in Oliver at last Thursday’s regional district board meeting.
The motion, to “That the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen support the request to the Minister of Health to change the method of payment for physicians working in the Emergency Ward at the South Okanagan General Hospital from Fee for Service to Salary; and, that the salary offered be similar to that offered for similar services at the Penticton Regional Hospital,” was put forward by Despot because of a deepening crisis at the South Okanagan General Hospital. Adequately staffing of the emergency ward is about to be seriously compromised over a pay equity issue amongst the doctors staffing the department.
“This will cost $800,000 per year more to service the emergency ward 24 hours per day, seven days a week,” Despot said. “South Okanagan General Hospital treats 18,000 emergency visits each year - the fee structure will have to change if the ward is to stay open 24 / 7 in the future.”
Despot told the board that the hospital board planned to meet with the health minister to try and work something out in the near future.
“There are other communities in the same position,” he added, noting that Salmon Arm and Williams Lake emergency wards were facing similar issues.
“We are looking for a letter of support froom the regional board to take to the Minister,” Despot said.
“This is absolutely huge,” added Osoyoos Director Stu Wells. “It could mean the shut down of the emergency department.” Wells noted that the board had met a couple of times to discuss the issue and had MLA John Slater and the Osoyoos Indian Band supporting the request.
Alternate Director for Oliver Jack Bennest pointed out that quality and parity of service was at issue here.
RDOS Chair Dan Ashton wondered what the availablility of doctors would be should thier emergency ward service be considered salaried.
“Would they be available to the public for general use as opposed to being just available for emergency treatment?” he asked, to which Despot responded, “How they ( Ministry of Health) do it is up to them.
There is a perception that doctors aren’t as challenged in small town hospital emergency rooms - that’s not true. You’re on your own, the work is comparable (to larger centres).
It would take us a year (to get this issue resloved) to go through proper channels. There are eight doctors who have tendered resignations for July - we don’t have time.
The issue is equity of pay. We have to change the pay schedule. These are 10 to 14 hour blocks - doctors won’t come to be paid for three or four treatments. There will be closures in July if this continues.”
“Why is this coming to light at the eleventh hour?” queried Penticton Director John Vassilaki, to which Despot replied that he had first heard about the issue in late April, and that it had only come to the attention of other local politicians in the last 30 days.
Apparently, the dissatisfaction with emergency pay has been a long standing issue that only recently boiled to the surface to the point where doctors are speaking up and taking action.
Interior Health has been dealing with the matter internally and have given the doctors their support, as well as applying to the province for funding.
“Salmon Arm and Williams Lake are two other trouble spots,” concluded Director Wells. “It’s a crisis situation for a couple of other towns as well.”
The D and T Centre in Keremeos is not affected by pay equity issues in its emergency department.