When I read Jeff Nagel’s article (“Homecare instead of hospitals for seniors,” The Leader, July 19), it brought back bad memories for me when in September 2002, the Fraser Health Authority cut our homecare budget by 35 per cent.
My position was executive director of Surrey and White Rock Homecare and this would deeply effect the employees of the association where many of them would lose their jobs.
I fought those cuts and because someone in the ministry didn’t like my approach, I was fired by the board, Fraser Health Authority and the Ministry of Health.
It was a political decision all the way.
Homecare was then the wave of the future.
Why? Because it was cost efficient and it kept the elderly clients in their home.
The Fraser Health Authority has taken almost 10 years to recognize that.
Good for Lynda Foley to pursue this, something that is not happening in Vancouver. Just last week Vancouver Coastal Health announced cuts to home support service.
One begins to wonder where the Ministry of Health is in Victoria when one region supports homecare and other doesn’t.
Ron Watson
Surrey