Vancouver Gov. Health Care Mulling Over Cutting Out Surgeries

[Iggy]

http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1878506&sponsor
VANCOUVER — Vancouver patients needing neurosurgery, treatment for vascular diseases and other medically necessary procedures can expect to wait longer for care, NDP health critic Adrian Dix said Monday.

Dix said a Vancouver Coastal Health Authority document shows it is considering chopping more than 6,000 surgeries in an effort to make up for a dramatic budgetary shortfall that could reach $200 million.

“This hasn’t been announced by the health authority … but these cuts are coming,” Dix said, citing figures gleaned from a leaked executive summary of “proposed VCH surgical reductions.”

The health authority confirmed the document is genuine, but said it represents ideas only.

“It is a planning document. It has not been approved or implemented,” said spokeswoman Anna Marie D’Angelo.

Dr. Brian Brodie, president of the BC Medical Association, called the proposed surgical cuts “a nightmare.”

“Why would you begin your cost-cutting measures on medically necessary surgery? I just can’t think of a worse place,” Brodie said.

According to the leaked document, Vancouver Coastal — which oversees the budget for Vancouver General and St. Paul’s hospitals, among other health-care facilities — is looking to close nearly a quarter of its operating rooms starting in September and to cut 6,250 surgeries, including 24 per cent of cases scheduled from September to March and 10 per cent of all medically necessary elective procedures this fiscal year.

The plan proposes cutbacks to neurosurgery, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, and 11 other specialized areas.Don't worry, it could never happen here.

[DRS]

This has been discussed before and it all ties into the fact they are hosting the Olympics this year and are scrambling to find money

[Iggy]

This has been discussed before and it all ties into the fact they are hosting the Olympics this year and are scrambling to find money

I'm sure the people needing the surgeries will understand.

[PredFan]

http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1878506&sponsor
Don't worry, it could never happen here.

Oh no Iggy, certainly you are mistaken. The libs here have assured me that these things never happen in socialized medicine. It's just the scare tactics and lies from the right wingers.

[Iggy]

Oh no Iggy, certainly you are mistaken. The libs here have assured me that these things never happen in socialized medicine. It's just the scare tactics and lies from the right wingers.

I'm wondering how they would decide which people get surgery and which don't. Maybe they should have a panel...

[PredFan]

This has been discussed before and it all ties into the fact they are hosting the Olympics this year and are scrambling to find money

So why is it that our healthcare system that I am told is so vastly inferior and in so drastically in need of change, can handle an Olympics without cutting back on services?

[DRS]

I'm sure the people needing the surgeries will understand.

No actually there are a lot of people upset.

The announcement that the number of surgeries in B.C. will be reduced while workers can be "volunteered" for the Olympics is the cruelest cut the Gordon Campbell Liberals have given us.

Campbell is renowned for a warped sense of kindness-reality when applied to the human condition and must think that "lending" tax-paid staff to the Olympic effort has no bearing on life or death in a hospital

[PredFan]

I'm wondering how they would decide which people get surgery and which don't. Maybe they should have a panel...

They go by the Quality Life Years Scale to find out who would be most "cost-effective".

[DRS]

So why is it that our healthcare system that I am told is so vastly inferior and in so drastically in need of change, can handle an Olympics without cutting back on services?

There is no need to cut back on healthcare there either he is just doing this to bring in more money, say bye bye come election time

[Flipple]

http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1878506&sponsor
Don't worry, it could never happen here.

...right wing agitator...

[Thanatos144]

More proof that Obama and crew are trying to pull a fast one

[Iggy]

...right wing agitator...

That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.:hug:

[bioya1]

So why is it that our healthcare system that I am told is so vastly inferior and in so drastically in need of change, can handle an Olympics without cutting back on services?

LOL.

Sure, nothing says superior health care system quite like the need for something straight out of the third world like this:


As the Remote Area Medical Foundation (http://www.ramusa.org/)’s huge, free health clinic winds up its eight-day run at the Forum in Inglewood this evening, organizers said they expected to be able to treat all patients who were given wristbands – or refer them to doctors who will provide free care.

During the organization’s first venture into a large, urban city -- and its longest-running health clinic in its 25-year history -- volunteer dentists and doctors helped deliver free medical care to thousands of patients. Many seeking care camped out overnight or slept in their cars; hundreds of others were turned away. Some had traveled from as far as San Francisco and Phoenix for the chance to be treated.

...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/final-day-at-free-clinic.html

[bioya1]

More proof that Obama and crew are trying to pull a fast one

What?

Did Obama and crew take over responsibility for properly funding Vancouver's health care system or something?

[Thanatos144]

What?

Did Obama and crew take over responsibility for properly funding Vancouver's health care system or something?

By lying and saying Canada's system is better than ours he is in fact trying to pull a fast one. Go spin someone else.

[Iggy]

LOL.

Sure, nothing says superior health care system quite like the need for something straight out of the third world like this:

Pay close attention to your article:
As the Remote Area Medical Foundation’s huge, free health clinic winds up its eight-day run at the Forum in Inglewood this evening, organizers said they expected to be able to treat all patients who were given wristbands – or refer them to doctors who will provide free care.

During the organization’s first venture into a large, urban city -- and its longest-running health clinic in its 25-year history -- volunteer dentists and doctors helped deliver free medical care to thousands of patients. Many seeking care camped out overnight or slept in their cars; hundreds of others were turned away. Some had traveled from as far as San Francisco and Phoenix for the chance to be treated.Whenever you give something away for free, demand automatically exceeds supply.

So thanks for making my point.

[DRS]

Pay close attention to your article:
Whenever you give something away for free, demand automatically exceeds supply.

So thanks for making my point.

Actually saw video of the people using this service they needed it

[Flipple]

Actually saw video of the people using this service they needed it

...I don't know about some of this. I saw an interview with a woman who was very worried because she couldn't afford to see a doctor, and hadn't seen one for THIRTY YEARS, and knew she should because she is a smoker...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but thirty years of a pack per day is a HELL of a lot of scratch...probably MORE than enough to have ponied up for a doctor visit or two.

Don't get me wrong, I feel for some of these people, but in they year 2009, smoking is a $150/month or more habit, and it seems that it's more a question of 'not willing' than 'not able' to afford healthcare....

[chris13]

There's no doubt (at least in a rational mind) that this "reform" is nothing but an attempt at government takeover.
And I continue to see things that just add to my opinion that this is a bad thing, from countries that already do it.
Last night on the local (Seattle) news, they had a story about a Canadian couple. A pharmacy was GIVING them their pills because they couldn't afford them. What? I thought everything was wonderful and FREE in Canada.
And this too. Text taken from boortz.com, link contained within "A pregnant woman is turned away from a UK hospital and ends up giving birth on her bathroom floor. The NHS response? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1207371/Father-turned-away-hospital-pregnant-wife-delivers-baby-bathroom-floor--saves-daughters-life.html)"We would encourage the family to contact our patient advice service if they have any concerns over the care received.""
Now why would a wonderful, government run health care system TURN AWAY patients?

If we have government run health care, we WILL have rationing, we WILL have lines, we WILL have tremendous waits for specialists and surgeries, and the government WILL have to make decisions based on QALY to determine if care is to be given.

[DRS]

...I don't know about some of this. I saw an interview with a woman who was very worried because she couldn't afford to see a doctor, and hadn't seen one for THIRTY YEARS, and knew she should because she is a smoker...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but thirty years of a pack per day is a HELL of a lot of scratch...probably MORE than enough to have ponied up for a doctor visit or two.

Don't get me wrong, I feel for some of these people, but in they year 2009, smoking is a $150/month or more habit, and it seems that it's more a question of 'not willing' than 'not able' to afford healthcare....

Some people could do for themselves at times and I do not say everyone who uses the system could not make other arrangements

[DRS]

There's no doubt (at least in a rational mind) that this "reform" is nothing but an attempt at government takeover.
And I continue to see things that just add to my opinion that this is a bad thing, from countries that already do it.
Last night on the local (Seattle) news, they had a story about a Canadian couple. A pharmacy was GIVING them their pills because they couldn't afford them. What? I thought everything was wonderful and FREE in Canada.
And this too. Text taken from boortz.com, link contained within "A pregnant woman is turned away from a UK hospital and ends up giving birth on her bathroom floor. The NHS response? (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1207371/Father-turned-away-hospital-pregnant-wife-delivers-baby-bathroom-floor--saves-daughters-life.html)"We would encourage the family to contact our patient advice service if they have any concerns over the care received.""
Now why would a wonderful, government run health care system TURN AWAY patients?

If we have government run health care, we WILL have rationing, we WILL have lines, we WILL have tremendous waits for specialists and surgeries, and the government WILL have to make decisions based on QALY to determine if care is to be given.

Drugs are not part of the Canadian system

One of the things people seem to miss with places like England was they did not keep healthcare spending up with their immigration rates

[darknessesedge]

I'm sure the people needing the surgeries will understand.

hahahah

cant operate on you, but here's a couple of tickets to watch pole vaulting...hahahaha

[ad_hoc24]

Historically, we can't do anything better than Canada. So, any system we start that is similar to theirs will likely fail in the exact same way, perhaps even worse.

[darknessesedge]

This has been discussed before and it all ties into the fact they are hosting the Olympics this year and are scrambling to find money

so what happens when the US hosts a olympic?

no surgeries?

[DRS]

so what happens when the US hosts a olympic?

no surgeries?

Actually the UTAH games were in serious trouble it took someone smart to turn them around

BC does not have a very smart man there

[DRS]

hahahah

cant operate on you, but here's a couple of tickets to watch pole vaulting...hahahaha

Winter Olympics that should be interesting

[johnrocks]

Actually the UTAH games were in serious trouble it took someone smart to turn them around

BC does not have a very smart man there

Didn't effect Utah's heath care system though.

[darknessesedge]

Winter Olympics that should be interesting

was summer or winter specified in the beginning?

[DRS]

Didn't effect Utah's heath care system though.

This should not either, but he is taking money from the health care and employess out of the system. This is not a funding problem this is just plain stupidity on the part of the premier

[OldBuzzard]

Interesting that this is in British Columbia.

I have a good 'online friend' that flys in IL2 1946 that in in BC, near Vancouver.

He is an older gentleman, in his 80s, and just last week was told, after it was discovered that he had a number of lumps on his prostate, "If it's cancer we won't operate because you are too old!"

He told us about this on Team Speak, and I was just stunned.

[darknessesedge]

Interesting that this is in British Columbia.

I have a good 'online friend' that flys in IL2 1946 that in in BC, near Vancouver.

He is an older gentleman, in his 80s, and just last week was told, after it was discovered that he had a number of lumps on his prostate, "If it's cancer we won't operate because you are too old!"

He told us about this on Team Speak, and I was just stunned.

what was that old algore adage about letting old folks wither on the vine.......

[DRS]

Interesting that this is in British Columbia.

I have a good 'online friend' that flys in IL2 1946 that in in BC, near Vancouver.

He is an older gentleman, in his 80s, and just last week was told, after it was discovered that he had a number of lumps on his prostate, "If it's cancer we won't operate because you are too old!"

He told us about this on Team Speak, and I was just stunned.

I have seen surgeons refuse to operate because the person would not survive that maybe the case here.

[PredFan]

LOL.

Sure, nothing says superior health care system quite like the need for something straight out of the third world like this:

That doesn't answer my question.

[OldBuzzard]

I have seen surgeons refuse to operate because the person would not survive that maybe the case here.

I kind of doubt that is the case here. He still mows his and his neighbor lady's lawns, keeps up with us younger guys in an online flight sim, where good reflexes are a must. Talks about going hunting and fishing. Nope, by all indications, he's pretty healthy. Well, other than the prostate thing.

[DRS]

I kind of doubt that is the case here. He still mows his and his neighbor lady's lawns, keeps up with us younger guys in an online flight sim, where good reflexes are a must. Talks about going hunting and fishing. Nope, by all indications, he's pretty healthy. Well, other than the prostate thing.

I would have to hear the reason, but when I was getting treated for cancer most of the people in place I was staying for treatment were retirees

[darknessesedge]

I have seen surgeons refuse to operate because the person would not survive that maybe the case here.

I see you posting in the rel forums which is cool.
why do you support so much of what the left has?

[chris13]

Drugs are not part of the Canadian system
But drugs are cheaper in Canada. Because the government implemented price controls. Like many other countries did. Which is another reason we pay so much for them here in the U.S.

One of the things people seem to miss with places like England was they did not keep healthcare spending up with their immigration rates

And do you think we're not going to run into the same issue? We're already talking about covering illegal immigrants.