The Editor,
Re. “ERH making changes to focus more on seniors” (The Tri-City News, Aug. 22).
Within the recent article about Eagle Ridge Hospital, it was only briefly mentioned that the High Intensity Rehabilitation (HIR) program will be moving to the Queens Park Care Centre in New Westminster.
This program has been at ERH for more than 30 years and has provided excellent care to the patients and their families needing its specialized rehab services.
Moving seniors programs to ERH should not come at the expense of the HIR program, which will not be ready to provide optimal rehab services at Queens Park for at least several more months.
HIR was scheduled to move Sept. 4 but recent action by multiple unions has resulted in a 60-day halt as staff are only now being given the opportunity to negotiate employment options associated with moving the program.
Plans still need to be put in place to provide mentoring for newer staff and to ensure there are adequate staffing numbers of all disciplines for the number of patients admitted to the program.
Renovations at Queens Park to make the physical space appropriate for providing speech, occupational and physical therapies for stroke and other neurological conditions will not be completed for several more months.
It is unfortunate and distressing to witness the unnecessary push to move this program to Queens Park before all aspects to adequately provide rehabilitation to current and future patients are in place there.
Some patients were already admitted to Queens Park ahead of the September moving date for the program. The remainder are still at ERH. It is not appropriate to subject rehab patients and their families to the current disarray of this previously effective and highly respected program and to cause a potentially negative impact on their recovery.
Past and present staff of the HIR program have been, and continue to be, dedicated to providing the best rehabilitation possible. As such, at ERH, the program has already been a centre of excellence.
Adults of all ages, including seniors, deserve and should expect optimal rehabilitation services if and when they require it.
Sandra Buday, Coquitlam
