Canada Health Plan May Deny 6,000 Surgeries

NEWSMAX ^ | Wednesday, August 19, 2009 6:56 PM | Dave Eberhart

[Total Package]

Vancouver, Canada’s health authority is mulling skipping over more than 6,000 surgeries in an effort to close a $200 million budget shortfall, according to a report in the Vancouver Sun.

The excised procedures would include a host of neurosurgeries, treatment for vascular diseases and other medically necessary procedures -- leaving patients waiting long periods of time for their backordered operations, said Canadian health critic Adrian Dix.

[Total Package]

I guess single payer health care is the best thing we could do for our country.

[driftdiver]

but there wont be any rationing

[the invisib1e hand]

When they start telling you that the most patriotic thing you can do for your country, and for "the children," is to die...well, I guess we can all say it's not too hard to envision that scenario.

What the hell happened to this City on a Hill?

[Always Right]

But don’t dare call them ‘death panels’...

[mikey_hates_everything]

How will it feel to have your life-saving surgery up there on the priority list with pothole repairs, parks, and school buildings?

[the invisib1e hand]

From one article in the Vancouver Sun:

The Fraser Health Authority confirmed Thursday it intends to cut surgeries, seniors' programs and services for the mentally ill to help deal with a budget shortfall of up to $160 million.

However, it said the emergency department at Mission Memorial Hospital will stay open.

From another:

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.

As many of 112 full-time jobs -- including 13 anesthesiologist positions -- would be affected by the reductions, the document says.

"Clearly this will impact the capacity of the health-care system to provide care, not just now but in the future," Dix said.

Further reductions in surgeries are scheduled during the Olympics, when the health authority plans to close approximately one-third of its operating rooms.

Two weeks ago, Dix released a Fraser Health Authority draft communications plan listing proposed clinical care cuts, including a 10-per-cent cut in elective surgeries and longer waits for MRI scans.

The move comes after the province acknowledged all health authorities together will be forced to cut staff, limit some services and increase fees to find $360 million in savings during the current fiscal year.

In all, Fraser Health is looking at a $160-million funding shortfall.

Vancouver Coastal performed 67,000 surgeries last year, an increase of 6,500 surgeries over 2007.

"What has now happened is that now our wait times are about 25 per cent lower than the provincial average," D'Angelo said. "We have put a dent in that wait list."

Brodie acknowledged surgical waiting times have dropped significantly in recent years, particularly for patients needing hip and joint replacements.

He said the proposed cuts threaten those advancements.

"It sounds like we are going backwards here," he said...

Health Minister Kevin Falcon was unavailable for comment Monday on the proposed health-care cuts. A ministry spokesman said Falcon is away on his honeymoon until the end of August.

I can see what's happening here. The market has been replaced by political wrangling -- that passive-aggressive that is a thin veil over the other market: the one where money, connections, and power get things for you and damn everyone else who doesn't have them.

This is the sum and substance with the left: to undo the benefits of the democratic process in order to secure themselves.

Nuke 'em.

[dennisw]

Do you need to be politically connected to get an important surgery? Under 0bama-care guess who will be moved to the head of the line by the medical bureaucrats

[the invisib1e hand]

for emphasis:

Health Minister Kevin Falcon was unavailable for comment Monday on the proposed health-care cuts. A ministry spokesman said Falcon is away on his honeymoon until the end of August.

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care PING LIST

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[driftless2]

Good thing the U.S is nearby to provide those surgeries. At least for another year or so. (smirk)

[fanfan]

Thanks for the ping, socialismisinsidious.