Letter to the Editor
Gabriola Sounder
Monday, November 29 2010
Monday, November 29 2010
No one can argue the emergency treatment room at Twin Beaches has been effective in stabilizing and triaging patients. But the community should be aware of an affordable alternative to the building of another facility.
The layout of the current clinic was designed by the Gabriola Health Care Society. In less than one year they were stating more space was required. The existing facility at Twin Beaches is not being fully utilized. Currently, space is being sub-rented to a physiotherapist, space that could be used to accommodate another doctor and an enlargement of the existing emergency room.
A press release by the Gabriola Health Care Society that states by owning a facility instead of renting, they would be able to better control costs, is arguable. The society would have to pay all the property taxes, repairs and maintenance and insurance where now they only pay a proportionate share of these costs. There is room to expand the existing space which the landlord has offered to do. This would minimize the need for a substantial capital investment and increasing operating costs which the society would incur if they build a facility.
Many people are assuming the Vancouver Island Health Authority will equip and subsidize the new facility. There is no commitment from the authority to do so. Funds for medical equipment and trained staff to operate that equipment would have to be raised. The projected budget seems inadequate to cover all these costs.
Will the rental income from the doctors be enough to cover the operating expenses or will the residents of Gabriola be constantly encouraged to keep paying for what might become a money pit?
These are concerns that should be discussed before moving forward.
~ Kelly Brooks, President,Twin Beaches
The layout of the current clinic was designed by the Gabriola Health Care Society. In less than one year they were stating more space was required. The existing facility at Twin Beaches is not being fully utilized. Currently, space is being sub-rented to a physiotherapist, space that could be used to accommodate another doctor and an enlargement of the existing emergency room.
A press release by the Gabriola Health Care Society that states by owning a facility instead of renting, they would be able to better control costs, is arguable. The society would have to pay all the property taxes, repairs and maintenance and insurance where now they only pay a proportionate share of these costs. There is room to expand the existing space which the landlord has offered to do. This would minimize the need for a substantial capital investment and increasing operating costs which the society would incur if they build a facility.
Many people are assuming the Vancouver Island Health Authority will equip and subsidize the new facility. There is no commitment from the authority to do so. Funds for medical equipment and trained staff to operate that equipment would have to be raised. The projected budget seems inadequate to cover all these costs.
Will the rental income from the doctors be enough to cover the operating expenses or will the residents of Gabriola be constantly encouraged to keep paying for what might become a money pit?
These are concerns that should be discussed before moving forward.
~ Kelly Brooks, President,
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