qathet Regional District directors want to make sure a working group with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) provides ample opportunity for an expanded scope of conversation.
At the April 24 qathet Regional Hospital District meeting, directors considered draft terms of reference for the regional hospital district and VCH working group.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said the draft terms of reference included hospital district membership of the chair, a director and a member of financial services, however, there was a forthcoming recommendation that the hospital district would have the chair, a director, a Tla’amin Nation representative and a staff member, so he was looking for direction on how to proceed.
City of Powell River director and hospital district chair George Doubt said it would be a great amendment to the motion to include four hospital district representatives.
Gisborne suggested an amendment to include four appointments to the draft terms of reference rather than three. The amendment carried unanimously.
Chief administrative officer Al Radke said in the draft agreement, in a section on the scope of the working group, was very prescriptive about what could be discussed.
“There won’t be an outlet for you folks to be that speaking voice if you stick literally to these terms,” said Radke. “I get the impression that VCH is attempting to limit the scope of conversation and there may be times down the road where your scope of conversation could be about staffing issues, because the staff required to do an initiative that you want involves talking about staff and adding numbers. That might not float the boat according to these terms.”
City director Cindy Elliott said some of the issues mentioned by Radke indicate that possibly, some wording changes could help this draft be better for the regional hospital board. She said she was wondering about postponing voting on it, sending it back to staff, and giving staff the opportunity to come back with proposed changes.
Gisborne said he had concerns because VCH is responsible for the agenda and they are the ones pushing the hospital district into a box.
Doubt said without the working group, the hospital district would be back to where it was before with no communication.
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said it makes sense to get the terms of reference right the first time.
“There isn’t a huge time issue,” said Fall. “It makes sense to spend one more iteration, then have us look at it to make sure we are comfortable with it. It will be a good way forward to improve communication.”
The hospital board voted unanimously to postpone.
The board then considered a second motion that the working group members consist of the board chair, a director, Tla’amin board member and one member of regional district staff. City director Cindy Elliott put forward a motion that the working group members consist of board chair Doubt, director Gisborne, Tla’amin board member Losa Luaifoa and one member of the regional district staff. The motion carried unanimously.
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