BC NDP

VICTORIA -- New Democrat leader Carole James joined community members in Victoria to highlight the impact of sweeping cuts to Vancouver Island health care.

Along with a senior citizen and a nurse impacted by cuts to the local James Bay Community Project, the New Democrat leader questioned the B.C. Liberals for breaking their election pledge to protect health care.

"Throughout the provincial election, the B.C. Liberals falsely assured British Columbians that they would protect health care. Last week, they did a complete reversal and inflicted deep cuts to patient care across Vancouver Island," said James, the MLA for Victoria - Beacon Hill. "These cuts are in addition to those already announced across B.C., affecting everything from MRIs, mental health services, seniors and home care.

"Today, I'm joined by members of my community concerned about the consequences of these cuts, which will not only be felt through the loss of services here at the James Bay Community Project, but across the region in the form of more ER crowding, longer waitlists, and the less efficient use of taxpayer dollars," James said.

Victoria’s James Bay Community Project is run on community health care model with a focus on primary and preventive care, and chronic disease management. It sees 2,500 patients a year, 200 of which are over the age of 90. The latest cuts will see the last one of their three nurse practitioner positions cut by the end of this year.

The Health Council of Canada recommends the integrated approach of community health centres in meeting health care goals of dealing with chronic conditions, involving a broad spectrum of practitioners, instead of focusing on physicians dealing with acute or episodic conditions.

"Whether it's cuts to patient care or higher MSP premiums, it's clear people of B.C. are paying more but getting less under the Campbell government," said James. "Rising health care costs are a serious issue.
But slashing primary patient care only leads to greater long term health risks and more emergency health costs.

"Good public health care is the foundation of strong communities. And unlike the B.C. Liberals, the New Democrats believe we can protect fundamental health services by setting the right priorities, focusing on the patient and using innovation to reduce costs," James said.

As concrete solutions to address the health care crisis, Carole James and the New Democrats have proposed doubling the number of community care centres across the province, strengthen home care and working with patients and health providers to restore accountability to health authorities.