Editor:
For those of us on the front line in public care facilities, the past three months have been an incredibly difficult time. We’ve pulled together as a team, determined to do all we can to keep the virus at bay on the Sunshine Coast. We’ve Skyped and Zoomed, participated in webinars and podcasts. We’ve watched videos on proper use of PPE. We’ve worked to calm frightened residents and shared our own fears with our colleagues in the change room.
We’ve stayed away from our families and friends and listened attentively to Dr. Bonnie and the super team of professionals on our local task force.
As challenging as this time has been, the fact we were working in publicly owned and operated facilities gave us the confidence that we and the residents would remain safe. We knew that care protocols would be strictly observed, and that gowns, masks and sanitizer would be available as needed. “Life above profit.”
It is no surprise that all but a couple of the care centres to have experienced COVID-19 outbreaks are privately owned. In B.C. and across the country, the pandemic has shown once and for all the fatal weaknesses of private ownership.
It therefore came as a shock to discover that the Ministry of Health is still allowing Trellis to pursue its application for a for-profit care home in Sechelt. In light of all the horror stories from private facilities these past few weeks, how is this possible? The residents of long-term care are our parents, teachers, neighbours, friends. They deserve the best possible care, and we all need to know our communities won’t be put at risk in future health crises.
Adrian Dix must end the Trellis deal now and commit to defending public care in our community.
Barb Werk, Sechelt
