Two-tier health system shown in fundraising
Health Minister Adrian Dix, during a news conference Friday, said that “access to necessary medical care should be based [on] needs and not on an individual’s ability to pay.”
He also said the province has “shattered every record for diagnostic testing in B.C. for MRIs and CT scans in the last number of years” although there remains significant demand.
I suggest the records have only shown sub-par performance and shattered when capacity is still poor and ready to pay for MRIs in an effort to expedite the elimination of pain or some disabling symptoms.
It is coincidental that on the same day, I read of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation’s Imaging is Power campaign. The campaign has an $11-million fundraising goal, aiming to raise money to refurbish three existing MRI machines and purchase a new CT scanner, SPECT/CT scanner and C-Arm.
The MRI machines are from 13 to 22 years old and used more than 2,000 times in a year. Reconditioning them will bring them up to current standards at one-third the cost of buying new ones.
The new CT scanner will replace a 15-year-old model, and will provide better images more quickly.
Is this not a two-tier system? By actions of government, critical equipment needs to be paid for by those that make donations, yet not permitted to invest in their own health care.
Paul Carr
North Saanich
Eliminate confusion on Victoria streets
Navigating the highways and byways of Victoria has never been so challenging. Either on a bike or in a car, there are new signs and blockades everywhere telling us that we can’t get there from here, so find another way.
Some signs are downright dangerous. Take the ones at Fernwood and Haultain.
Haultain has stop signs in each direction of the road. Fair enough. This means you stop and proceed when the way is clear. Bikes can go straight; cars must go left.
Fernwood has a minor chicane to drive through, no yield or stop signs, but does have a strange sign with a bike and a pedestrian on it. Having searched extensively in the regulations, there is no such sign authorized for use on B.C. streets.
I think City Hall just made it up. (By the way, you can’t do that.) The closest I can figure is that it is a cautionary sign advising of bikes and pedestrians who might want to cross. The sign is white with black lettering.
However, cyclists seem to think that they do not need to stop at the Haultain stop sign; they blow through it, and believe that Fernwood drivers should screech to a halt to avoid hitting them.
What is wrong with these people?
The city needs to remove the bike/pedestrian sign, and then everybody will know what to do. Confusion kills on the road.
David Hansen
Victoria
Cure for health crisis? Fire the minister
Re: “Victoria clinic told to stop providing private-pay option for MRIs,” Nov. 12.
Health Minister Adrian Dix claims access to health care should be based on need — but he fails to provide timely care.
There’s one panic after another, with patches and patches.
I say Dump Dual Dix.
Keith Sketchley
Saanich
Many thanks to Dix for better health care
Health Minister Adrian Dix’s announcement regarding building emergency first responders capacity in rural communities is a very welcome news. We definitely need more community paramedics and ambulance workers.
New timely emergency services available 24 hours will provide much needed support to isolated communities. Thank you Minister Dix; one more step in right direction toward health-care goals.
Mano Sandhu
Victoria
A moving ceremony, heard by only a few
I have found the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies to be deeply moving experiences. This is an opportunity to reflect on the many sacrifices of so many others over the years to enable us to live in freedom.
It is gratifying to see so many families with young children in the crowd.
On Saturday we attended the downtown memorial amongst a large crowd.
Unfortunately, again like last year, only those nearest the cenotaph could hear the commentary.
Surely, given modern technology, a series of amplified speakers could be placed around the area, including on the causeway, to enable the large crown to participate fully.
Jim Ramsay
Victoria
Holocaust education is essential today
We certainly applaud our province’s push to make Holocaust education mandatory, starting in 2025, for high-school students. The sooner, the better.
As some have rightly opined, it’s shameful and astonishing education about this sinister event in human history has not only waned in B.C.’s curriculum, but has been attacked by Holocaust deniers, racists and other tragically misguided folks.
Having seen the Nazis’ ovens at Dachau — a concentration camp that’s now a German national monument — one is changed forever by this chilling reality.
In fact, there were many such death camps run by Hitler’s evil SS forces across Europe.
Our education ministry is correct in wanting students to learn the importance and depth of the systemic eradication of some six million Jews, and other innocent folks, by the demonic Third Reich fought by brave 91原创 soldiers — proudly saluted by Cowichanians on Nov. 11.
The idea is using education to prevent another heinous Holocaust event from happening again.
Given several current wars, this type of factual education is as necessary now as it ever was.
Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan
Furstenau’s leadership an example to others
Re: “Paging Andrew Weaver to lead Greens again,” letter, Nov. 11.
I am amazed that anyone would criticize Sonia Furstenau’s leadership of the B.C. Green Party. She is a dedicated, honest, well informed, smart, ethical, well balanced, compassionate leader with plenty of common sense.
She and her fellow Green MLA, Adam Olsen, raise important issues in the legislature that wouldn’t be considered if it wasn’t for them. Members of the B.C. Green Party are proud of their leader who upholds green principles, and certainly wouldn’t want to replace her with someone who has flipped political parties.
Being a leader isn’t easy, but Furstenau showed real leadership by immediately firing Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi when his deplorable behaviour on X was brought to her attention.
If only we had more leaders like Furstenau, the world would be a better place.
Shelagh Butterworth Levey
Cordova Bay
Turn on red dangerous for pedestrians
In an effort to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being hit by cars turning on a red light, this practice is now being banned in some cities.
These include New York City and Montreal. It is said by safety experts that this move improves the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. It is also a major safety improvement for those that travel on mobility scooters.
As a mobility scooter user, there have been many occasions when cars or trucks that are turning on a red light did not see me.
In many cases, especially with trucks, I cannot readily be seen by the driver when a right turn on red is being started. I then waited for the vehicle to make the turn before I cross the intersection.
It would certainly improve the safety of everyone if the turn on red was banned, especially those with mobility issues.
Roger Cyr
Victoria
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