September 1, 2009	PDF format: [17 Kb]

Nurses say claims that the provincial budget protects vital healthcare services are belied by the realities of cuts on the front lines caused by the government's refusal to cover deficits of its health authorities.

"Instead of investing in improvements to healthcare and other public services which are needed more than ever by British Columbians going through tough economic times, the budget won't enable health authorities to even keep what we've got," says Debra McPherson, president of the BC Nurses' Union.

At the same time, the budget imposes a six per cent increase in Medical Services Plan premiums, putting a significant new burden on working people and on seniors dependent on pension plans. BC is the only province that still imposes the premium, which many economists consider a form of regressive taxation.

"While the budget claims to be protecting 'core health services', the impact on the front line is cuts to services that help seniors stay healthy in the community, on preventative health services and services for people suffering from disabilities and mental illness. It also means job losses in a sector where we have been struggling to recruit and retain nurses and other healthcare professionals for more than a decade," McPherson says.

She's especially concerned that while the government says it is increasing health authority budgets by 19 per cent over three years, the increase for next year is actually only 4.15 per cent. "Small wonder the health authorities are preparing to cancel elective surgeries and close hospital beds to balance their books."

Unfortunately, the devil is in the details of health authority service plans, which the government chose not to release along with the budget. "On the one hand the government projects that it will be running a deficit for four years; on the other hand it insists the people in charge of delivering health care services must balance their books right now. That will have a seriously negative impact on patients."