The Similkameen News Leader
Editorial
January 27, 2009
IT'S STILL GOT A PULSE
The saga continues regarding the future of Princeton General Hospital.
If you saw our front page story last week, you would have learned that contrary to what you may be hearing on the street, Interior Health does not plan to close the hospital.
A letter to the Editor this week from the Health Services Minister himself confirms this.
So what is happening at PGH that has the town in such a fit over local health care?
The latest change to the service revolves around the pay scale for locum doctors. Up until February 1st Princeton Locums were receiving a little extra pay. After that date all locums in the province will have to follow new pay schedules as set out by the Ministry of Health Services.
What we are hearing is that local locums aren't happy with the changes and have indicated a real possibility of leaving Princeton for
'greener' pastures.
What the average citizen does not know is that the pay schedule designed by the Ministry of Health Services has split BC rural communities into four different categories (identified as Community Isolation Category A, B, C and D).
Princeton happens to be in Community Isolation Category A (along with 40 other communities/districts) which is considered the most isolated, therefore, provides the highest minimum daily rate. That rate, as detailed in a News Release from the Ministry and BC Medical Foundation this past September, is $900.00 per day.
And as locums say they feel the crunch as a result of the standardization, Princeton will once again be on the hunt for doctors.
I think we should be giving credit where credit is due. The Town of Princeton has partnered with other local agencies and businesses to
'package' Princeton as an attractive place to live, work and play.
If the locums feel the Ministry is squeezing too much out of them or taking too much away, then either the locums are expecting too much or the standardization program is too restrictive.
Either way, it's not the fault of Town Council, Interior Health or Princeton Hospital.
Will the situation change after the Provincial Election? Who knows, but it certainly would make a pretty good election issue, wouldn't it Mr. Lali?
