Friday, June 2, 2023 edition - Fraser Health hospitals struggle

Friday, June 2, 2023 | ☀️ High 24C

Good morning!

My poor old Jeep is going home to the farm this summer. I’ve heard that’s a fairly common euphemism for dead pets. But in the case of Franklin The Jeep, it’s a literal fate. He’ll be drafted into hauling firewood, rocks, or hay on field roads.

The mechanic’s diagnosis was simple: “Don’t spend any more money on this thing. And also, sign here so you don’t sue us when it crumbles to dust on the highway.” It was one of those “I’m not trying to scare you, but I am trying to scare you” conversations—the kind you get at the dentist or the high school guidance counsellor’s office when you tell them you want to be a reporter.

All I have to do now is get the car back across the province. The last time the Jeep did that drive was when I moved down here. We made it, but barely.

Help support journalism like today’s in-depth data dive on the Fraser Valley’s hospitals. Become a member here.

NEWS

Fraser Health’s CEO says data suggests hospital congestion is improving. The data says differently.

The data doesn’t lie: the capacity crisis afflicting Fraser Health’s hospitals is real—and it’s not at all new.

Amid a flurry of stories and criticism from doctors and patients about the regional health authority’s overcrowded hospitals, the health authority’s officials have argued that other health systems are facing similar challenges.

But Fraser Health’s hospitals are not simply victims of a nationwide health care crunch and a surge in recent patients. And although Fraser Health’s CEO insists that some progress has been made, her health authority’s own data suggests otherwise. Those figures show show the region’s hospitals to be consistently among the most overcrowded in the nation, and that the situation is significantly worse than five years ago.

• Today, Tyler pulls the curtain back on data showing that the troubles plaguing BC’s largest health care agency are nothing new—and of a scale persistently more severe than those seen elsewhere.

Need to know

🐮 Prices of fuel, feed, and fertilizer are contributing to the spiking cost of beef in BC [Vancouver Sun]

📸 Langley’s Campbell Valley Regional Park is a test site for Metro Vancouver’s plan to require professional photographers to buy $400 permits to shoot in its parks [CBC]

🚌 Striking transit workers rallied at the intersection of Highways 7 and 11 in Mission Thursday morning [Mission Record]

➡️ Fraser Health is holding a public board meeting on June 20; the deadline to submit questions is Tuesday [Fraser Health/Facebook]

👉️ A Chilliwack man died in a Langley car crash Wednesday night [Langley Advance Times]

🏅 Hope’s Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum was honoured at a BC Heritage conference [Hope Standard]; The Current wrote about the museum and the Japanese-Canadian history it preserves last year.

🚑️ One man was taken to hospital after a house fire in Mission [Mission Record]

🐎 A professional equestrian and show jumper talks about what it takes to compete and run her family’s stable in Langley [Langley Advance Times]

👮‍♀️ The Chilliwack RCMP is hosting a family-friendly open house on June 10 [Chilliwack Progress]

👉️ Abbotsford council candidate Jas Anand was disqualified for the next election after failing to complete financial reports; he joins two other previously-disqualified candidates [Abbotsford News]

😁 A giant garage sale involving over 200 homes in Langley ran for the third year in a row last weekend [Langley Advance Times]

🌤 You can find your weekend weather forecast here: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope

SPONSORED BY FRASER VALLEY CIDER COMPANY

Grab your tickets for the Langley Poker Run

Langley Poker Run hosted by The Fraser Valley Cider Company, Roots and Wings Distillery, Locality Brewing, and Valley Commons Winery on June 17, 1-6pm.

Your $15 ticket includes a glass, complimentary tastings, and snacks at each location. Collect your poker hand as you go, to win the grand prize, a bar fridge full of drinks. Shuttle bus tickets are available for a no-drive option.

Click here for tickets and more information.

The Agenda

Volunteers needed for upcoming repair cafe events

The Langley Environmental Partners Society is in need of handy-people to volunteer at upcoming repair cafes in the Langley Township.

Volunteers could possibly be tasked with fixing bicycles, troubleshooting cell phones and computers, repairing clothing, and a variety of other tasks.

The event aims to provide a sustainable alternative to throwing away old appliances, clothing, and electronics. Those interested in volunteering can contact Sarah at 604-546-0339 or email [email protected].

A bicycle repair event will be held July 8 from 10am to 2pm at Walnut Grove Secondary. On Sept. 9 from 10am to 2pm, a textile, tech, and household goods repair event will be held at the Firehouse Cafe (2900 272. Street) in Aldergrove.

Communities receive provincial funding for emergency operations

Municipalities and First Nations in the Fraser Valley will see more than $320,000 in provincial funding for emergency operations centres.

Each community in the valley will receive about $30,000, regardless of its population size. Projects are geared towards gathering emergency operations supplies, modernizing equipment, and training staff.

The funding comes from the province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. Almost $3 million will go to more than 100 communities across the province. Of those communities, 11 are in the Fraser Valley.

The following communities will receive the following amounts:

• Mission - $29,837

• Leq'á:mel First Nation - $30,000

• Fraser Valley Regional District - $30,000

• Abbotsford - $29,598

• Semá:th First Nation - $27,335

• Harrison Hot Springs - $29, 371

• Kent - $29,371

• Skawahlook First Nation - $27,151

• Seabird Island First Nation - $30,000

• Chilliwack - $29,400

• Langley City- $30,000

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