Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Sooke needs prescription for Current operation inadequate, says health committee
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Kevin Laird Sooke News Mirror
Mayor Maja Tait is being told to “go political” and be prepared to “rattle a few cages” in an attempt to get better x-ray diagnostic services in Sooke. For years, the Primary Health Care Services Working Group, chaired by Tait, has worked at getting better service in Sooke. Sooke’s current x-ray facilities, operated by North Vancouverbased West Coast Medical Imaging, operates only one day a week for two hours. It also creates analogue x-rays, far less superior than the doctorpreferred digital x-rays. Part of the problem is that Sooke is less than 28 kilometres from Victoria General and St. Anthony’s Treatment Centre in Langford, operated by West Coast Medical Imaging, where full x-ray facilities are located. then have to be bundled up and It means patients are expected driven to Langford and wait for to travel that distance within hours [for an x-ray]. It’s just not Greater Victoria. an acceptable situation.” The reasoning doesn’t sit Tait said as Sooke grows so well with Tait, who said it’s a does the need for improved challenge for many residents to medical diagnostic facilities, travel the distance on the often adding there is a “solid business windy and hazardous Sooke case,” based on patient volumes Road. alone. “They’ve (policy makers) $409,900 on 2 acresTo receive a certificate of clearly never driven outhome here at Great this time of the· year,” Taitwater said. supplyapproval to bill the province for · folks Stroll to lake services, x-ray facilities must “I just imagine at Ayre · Carriage apply to the advisory committee Manor when somebody fallsHouse and allowed on diagnostic facilities, which is suffering from whatever and
Shelly@ShellyDavis.ca www.ShellyDavis.ca
Fido gets better service than you
Coun. Rick Kasper said is a committee of the Medical although the x-ray facility is run Services Commission. However, by a privately-owned company, all diagnostic facilities (whether the licence was issued on the they intend on billing MSP or need to serve the people of not), must be accredited by Sooke and now that level of the Diagnostic Accreditation service needs to be challenged. program, a program of the “You have to fight this fire,” College of Physicians and Kasper told Tait at a recent Surgeons of B.C. council meeting. “You need to go Health Ministry spokesperson political on the issue, rattle a few Laura Heinze said the hours of cages.” operations are determined by the #1 Real Estate Company in Canada operator, and the machines the for Sales last 4 Consecutive Years facility uses are also determined SEE X-RAY • PAGE 5 by the private provider.
EllenBergerud@Shaw.ca LorendaSimms@gmail.com RealEstateSooke.com LorendaSimms.com
Sooke’s only x-ray facility is open one day a week for two hours. This facility only produces analogue x-ray, when doctors prefer higher-quality digital images. Mayor Maja Tait said local doctors prefer patients not get x-rays here, but send patients to either Victoria General or St. Anthony’s Treatment Centre in Langford. Local veterinarian clinics all offer digital x-rays to their furry patients and most are available, at least on an emergency basis, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
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