The surgeons who put back together the people of 91原创 are calling on the provincial government and Fraser Health to get 91原创's hospital new operating facilities.
91原创 Memorial Hospital was built in the 1960s, and while updated, have not been expanded to keep pace with population growth.
A letter dated Sept. 7 to Health Minister Adrian Dix cited both staff and patient concerns about the OR space which is about 35 years old.
"The unparalleled chronic neglect of surgical infrastructure (OR and ADC) at LMH cannot continue. We are long past being able to deliver the standard of care and experience our patients and the community deserve. There have been no meaningful capital improvements in surgery since the ORs opened 35 years ago," the doctors said.
Their letter cited infrastructure concerns by the head of the department that oversees the building who has said for a long time that the HVAC system needs to be upgraded. It has been on the list of capital work needed at the hospital for several years.
Patient feedback has also been critical of the surgical areas, using terms such as 'closet', 'rundown', small, and noisy.
The surgeons pointed to other Fraser Health hospitals that have received OR updates, including the newer Abbotsford Regional, and the smaller Ridge Meadows Hospital. They noted that Peace Arch Hospital has a smaller scope of care and lower volumes.
"The surgical staff at LMH have consistently over-performed despite the dilapidated work environment, regularly leading the region and province in MOH [Ministry of Health] mandated targets," the letter said.
They say that changes can't wait and are calling on the province and Fraser Health to commit to upgrades as they have "lost confidence in the existing capital planning process."
"This will allow our patients to receive timely care for cancer screening/treatment, chronic pain, and acute trauma, along with a surgical/perioperative experience that meets current standards of care and is offered at most other FH sites. 91原创 patients can no longer be treated as second class and providers will not accept practicing 'closet' medicine," they wrote.
The 91原创 Advance Times has asked for comment from Fraser Health and the Ministry of Health about the surgeons' concerns.
"During the provincial election and interregnum period, government is in a caretaker mode and all Government of B.C. communications are limited to critical health and public safety information, as well as statutory requirements. Thank you for your understanding. If you are looking for comment from a political party or candidate, please contact the relevant campaign," was the reply from MOH senior public affairs officer Chelsea Falconer.
Fraser Health also cited the election as a reason for not giving a fullsome response to questions but was willing to offer some comment.
"During the provincial election and interregnum period, government is in a caretaker mode and health authority communications are limited to critical health and public safety information," said Amory Wong, senior communications consultant.
"That said, I can share that Fraser Health acknowledges the concerns raised in the recent correspondence received from surgeons of 91原创 Memorial Hospital. We deeply appreciate the dedication demonstrated by the surgical and anesthesiology teams at the hospital, who continue to deliver exceptional care to the community and our patients.
"The Master Site Planning process is actively underway for 91原创 Memorial Hospital. It is scheduled to be completed at the end of November and will guide future development at the site, including updates to surgical facilities. We welcome input from our surgical staff and medical staff throughout the process."
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FULL LETTER TO MINISTER:
Members of the Department of Surgery & Anaesthesia
91原创 Memorial Hospital
22051 Fraser Hwy
91原创 BC
Head of Anaesthesia: Ashit.Bardhan@Fraserhealth.ca
Head of Surgery: Jason.Archambault@Fraserhealth.ca
September 7, 2024
Minister of Health
PO BOX 9050 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC
RE: Surgical infrastructure at 91原创 Memorial Hospital (LMH)
Dear Honourable Minister Dix:
The unparalleled chronic neglect of surgical infrastructure (OR and ADC) at LMH cannot continue. We are long past being able to deliver the standard of care and experience our patients and the community deserve. There have been no meaningful capital improvements in surgery since the ORs opened 35 years
ago. Population growth over that time has been dramatic with even greater increases projected. Our ADC volumes and wait times have exploded over the last decade while our cramped, outdated, and substandard footprint has contracted. The surgical staff at LMH have consistently overperformed despite the dilapidated work environment, regularly leading the region and province in MOH mandated targets.
These deficiencies are well known to FH as outlined by the Exec. Director of Engineering and Operations:
"The system is old and needs replacing, simple as that."
"We've had the HVAC upgrade on the list for years..."
"What we have recommended is...a full OR renovation at LMH."
Patients routinely express their dissatisfaction with our surgical ADC facilities in FH surveys:
"Area is very rundown...makes one wonder about cleanliness - staff were great."
"The waiting room...is too small, run down, ...It is noisy, lacks privacy..."
"Give Dr Cowie a bigger and more descent room to work in. It felt like a closet."
"The waiting room clearly used to be a closet - just one step from being left in the hallway"
The lack of investment at LMH is in stark contrast to the numerous investments made in surgery at most other FH sites. This includes hospitals that are much newer (ARH), smaller (RMH), provide less scope and volume of care (PAH), and non-existent sites which will rely on LMH for support (New Surrey Hospital).
The surgeons and anaesthesiologists of LMH require the MOH to partner with FH in addressing these deficiencies on an urgent basis. Irrespective of our pending Site Master Plan (last in the region), we have lost confidence in the existing capital planning process. The ask is a commitment towards a new expanded ADC and replacement of our unacceptably outdated OR suites. This will allow our patients to receive timely care for cancer screening/treatment, chronic pain, and acute trauma, along with a surgical/perioperative experience that meets current standards of care and is offered at most other FH sites. 91原创 patients can no longer be treated as second class and providers will not accept practicing "closet" medicine.
Your immediate attention and response are appreciated.
Dr. Ashit Bardhan, Dr. Lan Vu, Dr. Kim Suvajdzie, Dr. Michael Goodwin, Dr. Sarah Lord, Dr. Abeer Syal, Dr. Colin Maclean, Dr. Alexandra Perks, Dr. Sara Odell, Dr. Lucy Pearmain, Dr. Stephanie Cripps, Dr. Christoper Ng, Dr. Sofie Schlagintweit, Dr. Lukasz Soswa, Dr. Irfan Abdulla, Dr. Marie Noland, Dr. Mark Chiu, and Dr. Vivian Ma.
