Council Notes: Minister of Health responds to community

COUNCIL NOTES

• Terry Lake, Minister of Health, has written to Mayor Bill Streeper following a meeting he held with the minister at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention.

“BC Emergency Health Services continues to work closely with officials from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to identify opportunities to improve pre-hospital ambulance responses and inter-hospital transfers from Fort Nelson to points south,” Lake wrote.

BC Emergency Health Services, the Municipality, Northern Health Authority, community physicians, and stakeholders are working collaboratively on solutions to ensure Fort Nelson and region residents receive timely, quality, and safe air and ground ambulance services.

Lake said approximately 70 patient transfers are from Fort Nelson each year and are coordinated by the Patient Transfer Network and the BC Ambulance Service. Transfers are provided by BC Ambulance Service or ground ambulances, as well as contracted ambulances from Alberta Health Services or local air carriers.

“BCAS continues to recruit new employees to our station in Fort Nelson. Staffing has been stable over the past year; however, we have only been able to attract one new hire,” Lake said.

A meeting has been arranged to review the situation further.

With regard to another issue raised by the Mayor regarding the supply of physicians, the Minister said a comprehensive set of programs and initiatives has been established for this purpose.

The Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues, with representation from the British Columbia Medical Association, the Ministry of Health, and health authorities, administers and oversees funding of these programs and initiatives. More information can be obtained from their website at www.health.gov.bc.ca/pcb/rural.html.

In addition to this, the government plans a health professional recruitment service called Health Match BC to assist health authorities with recruitment.

“It is important for any community experiencing recruitment and retention challenges to work closely with the regional health authority, as health authorities have recruitment professionals who collaborate with Health Match B.C. to coordinate and focus recruitment efforts. I encourage you to contact Dr. Betty Temple, Medical Director for Northern Health Authority,” Lake said.

In conclusion, the minister said it was important for communities to assist with recruitment by taking steps to present themselves as an attractive place for physicians, health professionals, and their families to live and practise.

Airport Fees and Parking Bylaw number 102

Scott Barry, Deputy CAO Operations, reported to council that at the last meeting of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, bylaw implementation for parking fees at the airport were presented for adoption.

“We have been aware the required infrastructure to install the new parking system of the Northern Rockies Regional Airport is unlikely to be operational by the projected implementation date. February 11th, 2014,” Barry said.

“Additionally, we discovered the proposed bylaw does in fact affect changes, additional parking fees and additional innovations in communications are needed. Therefore, we are of the opinion that it is best to rescind the third reading until these issues have been addressed.”

• It was recommended to Council that Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Heather Cosman and Ross Coupé be appointed chief and deputy chief election officers for the upcoming elections in the fall. They may be authorized to attend the election training course on April 8th-10th in Prince George.

School District #81 has confirmed its interest in renewing their agreements with the Municipality.

• Ross Coupé, Deputy Corporate Manager, has recommended that the purchasing policy be waived under the existing contract with Sarah & Marc’s Holdings Ltd for a monthly contract price of $4,350 plus taxes in an extension to January 1st, 2015, an additional one year. The administration reported excellent relations with the company and the Municipality.

Two options were offered to the board at the Monday meeting; one was to continue the existing contract for one year and the other was to re-tender the janitorial services.

• Leonda Clarke, on behalf of the Fort Nelson Hospital & Healthcare Foundation, has requested sponsorship support from the Municipality for the 4th Annual Horn River Charity Hockey Tournament to be held April 10th to 12th, 2014. The tournament will include hockey, fun, food, live and silent auctions, raffles, and much more with aims to raise over $50,000 to support hospital healthcare in Fort Nelson.

• The BC Assessment Customer Service has a new number 1-886-valueBC (1-886-825-8322).

For clients that wish to contact a specific BC assessment employee, please call the 1-866-valueBC number and the employee’s five digit extension.

• Siobhan Crawford, President Fort Nelson Ice Hawks, has requested that the Northern Rockies become a sponsor for the first ever Fort Nelson Ice Hawks Women’s Hockey Tournament to be held March 28th-29th, 2014.

It is expected that teams from Fort Simpson, Taylor, Buick, Clearview, and Grande Prairie will be attending the tournament. A gold sponsorship can be had for $500.