A10 • Saturday, May 8, 2010 • Burnaby NOW
Orthopedic surgeons worried about waits Surgeons say response times need to consider patient safety Janaya Fuller-Evans staff reporter
Orthopedic surgeons in B.C. are hopeful that a meeting with Fraser Health will cause the health authority to revert to the surgeon’s previous on-call response times. The British Columbia Orthopaedic Association has received confirmation of a May 10 meeting with Fraser Health’s CEO Dr. Nigel Murray to address the surgeons’ concerns. “Without consulting any orthopedic surgeons, on April 1, the health authority downgraded our response time from 30 minutes to two hours, with no consideration for patient safety,” said Dr. Albert Chan, the association’s regional director, in a press release. “We are pleased to finally have a date for our first meeting,” Chan added. The surgeons are most concerned about patients with serious musculoskeletal injuries, such as compound fractures or flesh-
eating disease, who must be treated right away, he said. If the health authority does not go back to the original 30-minute response time, Chan said, the surgeons would have to make further service changes to their schedules. Scheduling changes were to be implemented on April 19 if the 30-minute response time wasn’t reinstated, Chan and Dr. Jim Rose, the association’s acting regional director for Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Care Clinic, wrote in an open letter sent to Murray on April 13. “Until we can come to an agreement with the health authority about returning to our original response time for the appropriate care of our patients, we are adjusting our service schedules.” This would mean surgeons at sites other than Royal Columbian Hospital would accept emergency consultation and admissions in rotation. An agreement made with the B.C. Ambulance Service would ensure on-call surgeons would still treat patients effectively, the doctors added. Orthopedics Page 11
Paramedics: Will cuts hurt patients? continued from page 1
“We would like to see this revisited.” CUPE 873’s president, John Strohmaier, was also frustrated about the situation. “Fewer ambulances and fewer paramedics dealing with a growing population and an estimated 29,000 additional calls in the next year equals longer wait times and more backlogs in the health system,” Strohmaier said in a press release. “Patients will pay the price of these cuts.” A comprehensive joint study by the B.C. Ambulance Service and the union carried out in 2008 called for more ambulances just to try to keep up with growing call volumes. But the B.C. Ambulance Service said calls for patient transfers from one facility to another have decreased by 33 per cent since 2008. “Therefore, BCAS does not require the same number of transfer staff and ambulances to undertake this work as we have previously,” Chris Harbord, manager of communications for the B.C. Ambulance Service, wrote in an e-mail. Only 28 of the 35 positions being cut are
currently filled, Harbord added, and the government hopes to cut the other positions through attrition rather than layoffs. According to Harbord, the union is fighting the transfer of services rather than working with the ambulance service to make the transfer with minimal layoffs. According to Health Minister Kevin Falcon, contracting out these services in Metro Vancouver saved health authorities $2 million last year. CUPE 873 has been in contract negotiations with the provincial government since April, when the union’s contract was up. The four main issues are wages, job security, the need for more ambulances and compensation for on-call paramedics, according to the paramedics’ union. The provincial government’s legislation ordered paramedics back to work in September, after the union gave strike notice, and negotiations have stalled since then, according to Chute. There are 3,500 ambulance paramedics in B.C.; 1,400 full-time and 2,100 part-time employees. jfuller-evans@burnabynow.com
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ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENTS PUBLIC HEARING
The Council of the City of Burnaby hereby gives notice that it will hold a Public Hearing TUESDAY, 2010 MAY 18 AT 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chamber, Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 1M2, to receive representations in connection with the following proposed amendments to “Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965”. 1. “BURNABY ZONING BYLAW 1965, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 14, 2010” - BYLAW NO. 12785 Rez #04-47 3871 Pandora Street Lot 1, D.L. 186, Group 1, NWD Plan LMP30660 From: R5 Residential District, CD Comprehensive Development District (based on P1 Neighbourhood Institutional District) To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on P5 Community Institutional District and in accordance with the development plan entitled “St. Helen’s Elementary School, 3871 Pandora Street, Burnaby” prepared by KMBR Architects Planners Inc.) The purpose of the proposed zoning bylaw amendment is to permit the construction of two new school classroom wings, increase student enrolment, and bring the zoning of the overall site into compliance with its existing and intended uses. 2. “BURNABY ZONING BYLAW 1965, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 15, 2010” - BYLAW NO. 12786 Rez #09-17 5686 Laurel Street, Ptn. of 5780 Laurel Street and 5630 Fulwell Street Lot 29, D.L. 76, Group 1, NWD Plan 39661, Portion of Lot A, D.L. 76, Group 1, NWD Plan BCP25874, Lot 70, D.L. 74 and 76, Group 1, NWD Plan 28899 From: R5 Residential District To: M2 General Industrial District The purpose of the proposed zoning bylaw amendment is to bring the subject properties into conformance with their designated use as a public works yard. 3. “BURNABY ZONING BYLAW 1965, AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 16, 2010” - BYLAW NO. 12787 Rez #09-16 4700 Still Creek Drive, 4855 Still Creek Avenue, 2549 and 2650 Beta Avenue Parcel “C” (Bylaw Plan 60856) D.L. 124, Group 1, NWD Plan 1543, Parcel “B” (Ref. Plan 4406), D.L. 124, Group 1, Except: Part Subdivided by Plan 42351, NWD, Lot 5, D.L. 124, Group 1, NWD Plan BCP25458, Lot A, Blk 1, Except: Part Subdivided by Plan 42037, D.L. 73, Group 1, NWD Plan 4326 From: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on M1 Manufacturing District, M2 General Industrial District and M3a Heavy Industrial District) To: Amended CD Comprehensive Development District (based on M2 General Industrial District, and M3 and M3a Heavy Industrial Districts and in accordance with the development plan entitled “Still Creek Recycling / Green Waste Depot & Works Yard” prepared by Walter Francl Architecture Inc.) The purpose of the proposed zoning bylaw amendment is to permit the development of the City’s Still Creek Recycling / Green Waste Depot and to establish a Conceptual Plan for the Works Yard. All persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by a proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard or to present written submissions respecting matters contained in the bylaw. Written submissions may be presented at the Public Hearing or for those not attending the Public Hearing must be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk prior to 4:45 p.m. the day of the Public Hearing. The Director Planning and Building’s reports and related information respecting the zoning bylaw amendments are available for public examination at the offices of the Planning Department, 3rd floor, in Burnaby City Hall. Copies of the proposed bylaws may be inspected at the Office of the City Clerk at 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 1M2 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays from Tuesday, 2010 May 04 to Tuesday, 2010 May 18. NO PRESENTATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED BY COUNCIL AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING D.R. Comis CITY CLERK