The Mayor of Merritt says he fully expects his community to be repaid for 19 days of emergency room shutdowns last year, now that a bill for around $90,000 is set to be delivered to the Ministry of Health.
Mayor Mike Goetz says roughly $34,000 of that is for “services not rendered” during the shutdowns, on top of around $55,000 for costs the local fire department incurred while covering calls.
“When our hospital does go down, our ambulances are immediately booked up to take people to Kelowna or Kamloops, and we end up with no ambulances or any paramedics in town,” noted Goetz. “When we have a situation, then the fire department has to respond.”
Goetz says while he’s not trying to “make a point,” he does say he hopes his efforts can set a precedent for other communities suffering through ER shutdowns.
“If you can’t give us the service, then we need to get our money back. This is for everybody in the province,” said I mean, every time I turn on my computer, it’s almost like Beach Blanket Bingo – figure out which one [emergency room] is closed today.”
Goetz has sent the bill directly to the Ministry of Health after the Regional Hospital Board failed to back his effort.
“It has to go to the Ministry of Health, who would then probably turn it to the Minister of Finance, or the Treasury Board, and debate it there,” suggested Goetz. “It’s step that you have to take. If we don’t take the proper steps, it will simply just go in the round file.”
The fight over repayment in Merritt comes as the BC Nurses Union held a rally in the community last week, demanding more staffing at Nicola Valley Hospital, as well as a safer working environment.
Editor’s note: Radio NL does have calls in to the Ministry of Health for comment on this story, and will update as that becomes available.