National newspaper columnist speaks about health care
The Globe and Mail’s national affairs columnist, Jeffrey Simpson, spoke at VGH last week about challenges and
Jeffrey Simpson
transformation in health care.
He opened his speech to VCH leaders noting what he sees as a trend in health care funding in many provincial governments across Canada, which shows a shift from annual budget lifts of around 7% to modest increases tracking the rate of inflation of 2%.
Simpson said the evidence suggests more money does not create necessary change in the health system. He said time he has spent observing Canadian hospitals suggest too much work is still done on paper and staff members “are using clipboards like Marcus Welby.” Simpson offered the example of health care records; saying “better electronic relationships” between physicians, clinicians and patients would be transformative and result in better, more efficient care and can help many patients avoid ED visits.
He said in many ways, BC is a leader in health care and said across the country, acute care is “top drawer” and “first class”, but there is more work to be done in terms of patients, clients and residents not requiring hospital care.
Watch the speech