BC Nurses call on VIHA to respect Appeal Board’s stay decision
VIHA must honour commitment to hold 70 beds for Cowichan Lodge residents
BCNU calls on the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) to honour their July 25th commitment to hold 70 beds at Sunridge Place in reserve for residents of Cowichan Lodge.
VIHA is undermining the spirit of the Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board's stay order by putting pressure on Cowichan Lodge residents to quickly transfer to Sunridge Place. VIHA is telling residents of Cowichan Lodge they should move soon before Sunridge runs out of space. Residents who want to stay at Cowichan Lodge are leaving because they are fearful of not having a bed in a Duncan area seniors care facility.
VIHA's actions undermine the spirit of the Board's stay decision in that only voluntary transfers should occur during the Board's stay order. The Board will hear the families' appeal of VIHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stanwick's waiver of the twelve month notice of closure on August 25, 2008.
"VIHA's actions are disgraceful," said Debra McPherson, President of the BC Nurses' Union. "Not only are they traumatizing vulnerable seniors, they are undermining the spirit of the Appeal Board's decision. VIHA made a commitment to hold beds for these people and they need to do so until the families appeal is concluded."
BCNU has hired the legal firm of Caroline & Gould to assist the families and residents of Cowichan Lodge with their appeal of VIHA's quick closure of the seniors' long term care facility.
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