Thirty-five patients being treated in hallways at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
What happened? Did a train crash? An earthquake hit? Disease outbreak? Some other kind of disaster?
Well, yes and no.
No, there was no earthquake, train crash or epidemic.
Yes, there was, and is, a disaster: the current state of Canada’s health care system.
In a country that takes great national pride in its universal health care, harkening back to the days of Tommy Douglas, the legendary Canadian politician likely didn’t envision future major hospitals stuffing patients into hallways like some kind of M.A.S.H unit.
Our story on page 3 in this week's issue of the Now presents a sorry account of patients being left in beds in hallways, after seeking help at SMH.
The BC Nurses Union says this is a “regular situation,” with patients not only being left in hallways, but sometimes also in shower rooms or sun rooms. Not good for healing, or privacy.
It’s easy to blame this on the politicians, but why shouldn’t we? They make the decisions. They keep a tight grip on cash for Canadians while shipping tax money off to other nations. They supposedly control growth in urban areas.
Well, one level of government – provincial – will be subject to a general election on May 9.
Make better health care an election issue. Hold your politicians accountable. Get out and vote for those most likely to fix this mess.
The Now