I'm a bit livid right now. I'm livid with the anesthesiologists. I'm livid with the BC Medical Association. I'm livid with the BC Ministry of Health. The situation right now is an all out cluster f**k - the game playing has reached an obscene level, and in the middle of it are the patients. The mothers and the babies.
Yesterday the BC Government, announced funding for dedicated obstetric anesthesiology at Surrey Memorial, Royal Columbian and Victoria General Hospital. But don't break out the cigars just yet...this is not the birth of DOBA, at least not yet - I'm not sure if this will be yet another miscarriage or actually result in DOBA being a resource for pregnant mothers to rely on that will actually result in women having access to timely care (epidurals and c-sections) during labour and delivery.
So what is the cause of my cynicism? DOBA in BC has a long history - a history of being 'supported', but not actually realized. There has been a series of miscarriages. You see, the announcement yesterday is about 3 years too late. Why? Because, the government actually did try to get DOBA at these hospitals in 2009. What happend? Well not a single anesthesiologist applied to the positions. So as much as DOBA was then recognized to be a good thing that should be at all level 3 hospitals in BC, it did not come to be.
As a result - when I had my baby in July 2010, DOBA was not there. When Mrs. Frith had her baby in December 2010, DOBA was not there. When the baby in August was stillborn and sparked an external review, DOBA was not there.
So now, given the outright hostility between the BCMA, the Ministry of Health and the Anesthesiologists - I am in no way certain that DOBA will be in place anytime soon. I'll believe it when I see it, and in the interim - what about all the women who have been harmed between the time the government first realized that DOBA should be in all tertiary hospitals in BC and the time it actually becomes a reality?
There needs to be some accountability for the harm that has been caused - and right now there isn't...there needs to be some recognition of the pain and suffering that didn't need to happen, shouldn't have happend. If you've been harmed by the lack of DOBA in level 3 hospitals in BC, speak up - your voice deserves to be heard above the petty bickering!
Showing posts with label anesthesia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anesthesia. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The 2011/12 Labour Games in BC - Featuring Anesthesiologists
This issue seems to be moving so fast today as to make my head spin. I came across the following headline this afternoon:
The government apparently has tried to end the bitter dispute with anesthesiologists by offering $2.5 million for dedicated obstetric services at Victoria General Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Unfortunately, it appears that the government decided that the deal hashed out with the BCMA did not need the involvement of the anesthesiologists. As a result, the anesthesiologists were not even aware of the pending announcement.
Consequently the move is seen as game-playing by the anesthesiologists.
I think there's merit to the game-playing accusation. The issue has been ongoing for years (since 2009/10 at least) and it does appear that this latest pronouncement is in response to pending job action. I also think the anesthesiologists have a right to be unhappy with the negotiating environment. The fact that what is ostensibly a union could negotiate the terms and conditions of employment without input from the individuals it claims to represent - is a bit disturbing. It is more disturbing when that same group has been begging for its own voice for years.
Unfortunately, I think this means that I'll have to hold off on the celebratory champagne - as I've got a gut feeling that as a result of the game playing by the BCMA and the government that it might be a while before DOBA becomes a reality. I feel the announcement, particularly the timing of it and the way the deal was reached, might well inflame the situation further. This is no olive branch.
The real losers of all this game playing of course, are the women, particularly those who want and need medical services (c-sections and epidurals) during labour and delivery and have those services delayed or denied as a result.
I hope I'm wrong, the women and patients of BC deserve better - they should not have to pay the very painful price in this dispute.
B.C. Government's $2.5-million Surprise Announcement Called Game-Playing
The government apparently has tried to end the bitter dispute with anesthesiologists by offering $2.5 million for dedicated obstetric services at Victoria General Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Unfortunately, it appears that the government decided that the deal hashed out with the BCMA did not need the involvement of the anesthesiologists. As a result, the anesthesiologists were not even aware of the pending announcement.
Consequently the move is seen as game-playing by the anesthesiologists.
I think there's merit to the game-playing accusation. The issue has been ongoing for years (since 2009/10 at least) and it does appear that this latest pronouncement is in response to pending job action. I also think the anesthesiologists have a right to be unhappy with the negotiating environment. The fact that what is ostensibly a union could negotiate the terms and conditions of employment without input from the individuals it claims to represent - is a bit disturbing. It is more disturbing when that same group has been begging for its own voice for years.
Unfortunately, I think this means that I'll have to hold off on the celebratory champagne - as I've got a gut feeling that as a result of the game playing by the BCMA and the government that it might be a while before DOBA becomes a reality. I feel the announcement, particularly the timing of it and the way the deal was reached, might well inflame the situation further. This is no olive branch.
The real losers of all this game playing of course, are the women, particularly those who want and need medical services (c-sections and epidurals) during labour and delivery and have those services delayed or denied as a result.
I hope I'm wrong, the women and patients of BC deserve better - they should not have to pay the very painful price in this dispute.
News on the Anesthesia Front in BC
This morning I woke up to the following headline:
It appears that the issues between the province, the BCMA and the anesthesiologists are no closer to being resolved. I wish I could say that I was somehow surprised by the headline, but I am not. Further, it makes me even more hesitant to plan a birth in BC - if I was not so keen on the idea before given past experience, I am really not so keen on it now.
What is really disturbing about the proposed job action, is that patients are the ones who will ultimately pay the price. People generally do not undergo surgery because its a fun thing to do, rather they do so because the benefits in the long-term outweigh the pain of recovery and the risks associated with the surgery. Waiting to be 'fixed' isn't fun, often its a time of anxiety, disability, pain and suffering. Having your surgery further delayed or even cancelled because of a labour dispute isn't fair -- and can leave patients feeling like the system lets them down.
Further, in a health care system such as Canada's, there is no outside option - you can get 'medically neccessary' services but you must get them through the public system. Some people might be 'lucky' enough to have the resources to arrange for their surgeries either in another province or out of country - but doing so is an adminstrative and logistical nightmare that can be quite costly.
This does not bode well for expectant mothers in BC who might need anesthesia services that could be considered 'optional'.
Job action by B.C. anesthesiologists could delay, cancel medical procedures
It appears that the issues between the province, the BCMA and the anesthesiologists are no closer to being resolved. I wish I could say that I was somehow surprised by the headline, but I am not. Further, it makes me even more hesitant to plan a birth in BC - if I was not so keen on the idea before given past experience, I am really not so keen on it now.
What is really disturbing about the proposed job action, is that patients are the ones who will ultimately pay the price. People generally do not undergo surgery because its a fun thing to do, rather they do so because the benefits in the long-term outweigh the pain of recovery and the risks associated with the surgery. Waiting to be 'fixed' isn't fun, often its a time of anxiety, disability, pain and suffering. Having your surgery further delayed or even cancelled because of a labour dispute isn't fair -- and can leave patients feeling like the system lets them down.
Further, in a health care system such as Canada's, there is no outside option - you can get 'medically neccessary' services but you must get them through the public system. Some people might be 'lucky' enough to have the resources to arrange for their surgeries either in another province or out of country - but doing so is an adminstrative and logistical nightmare that can be quite costly.
This does not bode well for expectant mothers in BC who might need anesthesia services that could be considered 'optional'.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Is DOBA in BC around the corner?
Last week, the anesthesiologists were given a 'final offer' in a pay dispute that has been ongoing for years. The dispute has impacted on the quality of care that mothers at Victoria General Hospital have been able to access during labour and delivery.
This week the anesthesiologists have offered $3 million of their own funding to help recruit staff to help high-risk pregnant mothers and their babies.
Unfortunately, unless offers become deals, the situation at Victoria General Hospital (and other level 3 hospitals in BC that do not have DOBA) is unlikely to change. So far the track record for resolving the problem is less than inspiring. Unless the offer made on December 1 is competitive with what is available in other provinces, I don't think its very likely that the anesthesiologists will accept it. Further, unless the BCMA and the Ministry of Health are willing to work with the anesthesiologists on their offer of $3 million to recruit maternity staff - it is unlikely to have any impact in practice.
I am watching this situation unfold, and am truly hoping for the best as patient care needs to be the priority in this province - too many moms and babies have already paid a rather dear price while the BCMA, BCAS, and Ministry of Health have squabbled.
This week the anesthesiologists have offered $3 million of their own funding to help recruit staff to help high-risk pregnant mothers and their babies.
Unfortunately, unless offers become deals, the situation at Victoria General Hospital (and other level 3 hospitals in BC that do not have DOBA) is unlikely to change. So far the track record for resolving the problem is less than inspiring. Unless the offer made on December 1 is competitive with what is available in other provinces, I don't think its very likely that the anesthesiologists will accept it. Further, unless the BCMA and the Ministry of Health are willing to work with the anesthesiologists on their offer of $3 million to recruit maternity staff - it is unlikely to have any impact in practice.
I am watching this situation unfold, and am truly hoping for the best as patient care needs to be the priority in this province - too many moms and babies have already paid a rather dear price while the BCMA, BCAS, and Ministry of Health have squabbled.
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