This week in the BC legislature, North Coast MLA Gary Coons brought public attention to the dire conditions of a hospital on Haida Gwaii.

“The situation at Queen Charlotte General Hospital is totally unacceptable. Will the minister do the right thing for patients on Haida Gwaii and ensure that the redevelopment at Queen Charlotte General Hospital goes ahead?”

In mid may, the Northwest Regional Hospital board wrote a letter to their northern MLAs, urging them to bring the seriousness of this issue to the attention of the government. Nearly 70 years old, the hospital in the village of queen charlotte has been in need of major reconstruction. Staff have been forced to mix chemo chemicals in an old smokehouse, used an ATCO trailer as a morgue, and a greenhouse as a physiotherapy clinic. Long term patients share the washroom used by the general public and the water that builds up on the roof has to be removed manually.

In 2009, the NW Regional Hospital Board identified the reconstruction of this hospital as their top priority. The project is estimated to cost $50 million dollars and capable of generating $150 million of economic benefits to Haida Gwaii. The new proposed site is in above the tsunami zone standards, constructed to withstand natural disasters and accessible to islanders by the inland Forest Mainline. The Board has already contributed $2.74 million dollars to develop the facility planning to the blue print and business case phase.

Haida Gwaii’s vision is to provide a rural community health centre that operates under one roof. They are asking for a commitment from the province to care and support families, their health care, and their ability to stay within their communities and with their families.

“The conditions at Queen Charlotte General Hospital are atrocious and those on Haida Gwaii deserve quality health care services as anyone else, anywhere in the province,” said Coons.” This is a remote isolated part of British Columbia that is operating with really substandard facilities. The idea of using an Atco trailer as a morgue and an old wooden shed to mix chemo chemicals is appalling. The whole island pulled together to build the Masset Hospital and Health Centre with minimal support from the province, it’s time the BC Liberals stepped up to the plate and committed to a funding timeline. They promised Health Care when and where you need it, the time is now for Queen Charlotte Hospital! ”