NHA HEAR YOUTH AND DRUGS ARE A MAJOR CONCERN

Kitimatians may not have got answers, but at least the Northern Health
Authority's June 2 open house gave them a chance to raise their concerns.

And they got a promise those concerns would be heeded.

The session here was one of a series being held by the NHA called
Let's Talk About Health.

Chief medical officer Dr. David Bowering was the authority's point man
at the open house and explained its intent.

"The point of this exercise is not to sit down at the table and give
people answers, it really is a listening exercise."

And what he heard was consistent with the earlier Terrace and Prince
Rupert sessions: "I got the sense (people) have difficulty being heard."

With the NHA headquartered in Prince George, Bowering said people felt
their concerns are not being reflected.

Another concern - which has been felt throughout the province -
revolved around senior's care, which Bowering said stemmed from an
increase in the number of retirees here.

With more seniors in Kitimat, there was a need for places for them to
receive quality care.

"It's difficult to find a proper place for people who are in the
hospital but not needing that acute level of care," he said, but added
the NHA is putting together a plan for assisted and independent living
in the region.

Another concern raised was the connection between youth and drugs in
the community.

Bowering said he had been told the skateboard park, while it has been
a good refuge for Kitimat youth, has become a location for drug
trading, including younger children who may be exposed to it when they
are at the park.

The trauma surgeon at Kitimat General Hospital has told him that drug
and alcohol use increased his workload because some kids might have
violent outbursts which can lead to injuries that require treatment.

Bowering said the NHA is committed to finding a way to deal with these
and other difficulties the northern region is experiencing due to
staffing shortages and reduced funding.

Bowering said he will take the suggestions and ideas he has heard on
his travels back to Prince George where consultants will begin work on
a plan for improving health care in the region.

That said, Bowering is under no illusions. "I am aware that some
people may think that all these consultations will lead to very little
action from Northern Health."

Recognizing that people wanted to know how the authority could be held
accountable to act on what it was hearing, Bowering said he had faith
this round of community consultations will affect how the NHA works.

KGH chief of staff Dr. Johan Botha felt that through the consultation
process both the NHA and the provincial government could find out
exactly what the area offers in terms of health care for families and
individuals, what the area needs, and finally what it should have. "We
all know we can't have everything," he added.

Botha, who has experience of working in hospitals where the staff were
unhappy because they were overworked, said there has to be a way to
provide services without burning out staff.

Bowering said the findings gathered from these open houses will be put
into a public report this fall.

The NHA will use the information in its fall planning sessions to form
the long term strategy.

"I'm very hopeful that it will turn out to be positive in the long
run," said Bowering.