The debate over the future of long-term care on the Sunshine Coast is expected to be front-and-centre during the election campaign, and beyond.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has signed a contract with Trellis Seniors Services, a private for-profit, to provide long-term care beds in a facility the company plans to build in Sechelt.
Protect Public Health Care Sunshine Coast, a coalition opposed to the deal, is holding a public information meeting in Sechelt on April 30, near the mid-point of the campaign.
One of the speakers will be Andrew Longhurst, a researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Longhurst authored the recently released report, “Privatization and Declining Access to BC Seniors’ Care – An Urgent Call For Policy Change,” which claims privatization is leading to declining access to residential care, assisted living and home health services.
The report also said, “Research shows ownership of residential care facilities affects quality of care and staffing levels, and that for-profit residential care is generally inferior to care delivered in public or non-profit facilities.”
The group representing private sector providers in the province, the BC Care Providers Association, said the report “mischaracterized critical aspects of B.C.’s home and community care sector.”
The association also challenges the idea that the quality of care is inferior in privately run facilities. “There is no evidence of significant differences of care being delivered in private for-profit care homes compared to that of non-profit or government owned and operated care,” it said in response to the report. “They are obligated to provide the level of care or direct care hours set by the health authority.”
The question of a public vs. private model is likely to come up when voters raise the VCH Trellis deal with the candidates on the campaign trail in Powell River-Sunshine Coast. Coast Reporter asked the candidates whether they support the current VCH strategy for long-term care on the Sunshine Coast, and why (or why not), as well as where their parties stand on the role of contracting with private providers in the health care sector.
NPD incumbent Nicholas Simons said he does not support the VCH plan. “Neither the public nor health care workers were consulted on the VCH long-term care strategy, resulting in one that is very difficult to support … Introducing for-profit privatization of care for our seniors on the Sunshine Coast reduces the standards of care for seniors, results in massive job losses and uncertainty for health care workers, and results in less money circulating in our communities.”
Simons added that he feels “we must make every effort to work with VCH to help them revisit and renegotiate the contract for any project to replace and increase the number of much-needed long-term care beds here. We need them sooner than later.”
Mathew Wilson of the BC Liberals told Coast Reporter, “We must put patients first in health care. That’s why our BC Liberal government is investing $500 million over the next four years in residential care and home care. Our community has been under-served with respect to long-term care beds, and that’s why I support Vancouver Coastal Health’s plan to add 20 publicly-funded beds in a new facility in our community.”
But Wilson also said, “I’m convinced that while VCH’s plan is a good start, it is not sufficient to support our aging population … I will continue to work with VCH and community organizations to deliver the health care services that our residents need. That means working with VCH and the Hospice Society to secure a location and funding for additional hospice beds so we can provide our loved ones the dignity and comfort they deserve in the last stage of their lives. That means delivering on additional respite care and ensuring that resources are available for those who chose home care.”
Green candidate Kim Darwin said, “A government’s first and foremost job is to look after the well being of the people in this province. This includes the right of our seniors to receive appropriate care and housing at the sunset of their lives. BC Greens support a patient-centric health care system that is committed to fairness, local control and accountability. VCH should consult key community stakeholders and base funding on our community’s individual needs, taking into account our higher than average seniors population – fund us appropriately for the aging population we have.”
On the broader question of the role of private providers, Wilson said, “Just because an institution is run privately does not mean we have privatized health service delivery. In fact, private health facilities have an important role to play in making sure all British Columbians have access to the best health care delivery. These partnerships remove the burden of building costs from the public health budget.”
Simons said, “The NDP is in favour of keeping our health care system public. It is a reflection of our shared values, and underlies the principle on which the NDP makes its decisions. This philosophy reflects the views of the citizens on the Sunshine Coast, and indeed all British Columbians.”
Darwin said the Greens believe “health care for seniors and other vulnerable members of our community can never be provided based on anticipated economic return on investment. There are certain things that we expect our tax dollars to be spent on, and long-term care is one of those things – an essential service. Public private partnerships in the provision of some health services can be beneficial but should be explored cautiously and should be an adjunct to public and not-for-profit services.”
Cascadia Party candidate Reuben Richards did not respond to a request for comment.
The Protect Public Health Care Sunshine Coast forum takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the shíshálh Nation hall.
