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| Stand up for B.C.'s seniors and help the BCHC reach its goal of 5000 letters to the Premier by January 31st | |
The BC Health Coalition is calling on all British Columbians to stand up for seniors' and people with disabilities by sending a letter to Premier Campbell demanding that the provincial government act now to provide quality, accessible health care and improve necessary services such as home support and long-term residential care The provincial government has ignored the concerns of seniors and failed to act to improve necessary services. It has also broken its promise to build 5,000 new not-for-profit long-term residential care beds by 2006 and continues its drive towards private for-profit care despite evidence that not-for-profit facilities offer better patient-to-staff ratios and quality of care The letters will send a strong message to Victoria and kick-off the Health Coalition's "Broken Promises" 2009 Seniors' Care Campaign. The campaign has been developed in consultation with BCHC members, seniors and seniors' advocates from around the province who gathered in May 2008 to discuss the current crisis in seniors' health care and organize to demand action from all levels of government. Participants expressed collective concerns that despite countless reports, studies and recommendations, the provincial government continues to allow seniors to suffer. No more broken promises! Lend your support and take action NOW! and send your letter to the provincial government supporting BCHC demands! |
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| BCHC Meets with Provincial Ombudsman to voice member concerns | |
BCHC community co-chair Joyce Jones met recently with B.C. Ombudsman Kim Carter to address the crisis in seniors' care and private, for-profit residential care facilities. Jones was accompanied by Dr. Margaret McGregor of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and U.S. researcher Charlene Harrington. The group highlighted the poor quality of care that has become virtually synonymous with the for-profit residential care model. Ongoing complaints about neglect in care facilities, accessibility of services, placement decisions, separation from spouses and the closure of facilities prompted Carter to launch a systemic investigation into problems with seniors' care in our province. The Ombudsman's mandate is to ensure public administration in B.C. is fair, transparent and accountable. The investigation will examine various aspects of seniors' care, including access to services, standards of care in facilities, and monitoring and enforcement of those standards. If you have a complaint about care you or a family member has received, click here to send your message to the Provincial Ombudsman. |
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| National Medicare Week: British Columbians take action to promote public health care! | |
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From November 17-22, British Columbians concerned about public health care in their communities joined with others across the country to demand that governments act to protect and expand medicare during National Medicare Week. This year the BCHC coordinated action campaigns on three key B.C. issues: for-profit seniors' care, public-private partnerships, and private, for-profit clinics. Over 1,000 messages were sent to elected officials via the BCHC website. In addition, the BCHC sent a letter to Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq calling on her to investigate suspected B.C. violations of the Canada Health Act documented in the groundbreaking report, "Eroding Public Medicare," released in October. This year the BCHC coordinated action campaigns on three key B.C. issues: for-profit seniors' care, public-private partnerships, and private, for-profit clinics. Over 1,000 messages were sent to elected officials via the BCHC website. It's not too late for you to act! The BCHC continues to urge citizens to take action. Click here to send a message to the Federal Health Minister to investigate suspected B.C. violations of the Canadian Health Act. |
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| Health care defenders take City Hall! | |
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The BCHC is pleased to announce that 109 candidates from across the province signed our "Public Health Care Defender" pledge prior to the November 15, 2008 municipal elections. Municipal governments play an important role in protecting public health services in their communities. There are many actions that municipal officials can take to protect and improve our public health care system, from lobbying for new hospitals or health care facilities that are publicly financed and administered to using their authority over zoning to promote the development of public, not-for-profit facilities Check out the Click here to view the BCHC list of elected municipal health care defenders. |
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| BC Health Coalition • 411 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1X4 P: 604-681-7945 • F: 604-681-7947 • Email: info@bchealthcoalition.ca |
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