Increasing Rural Health Center Autonomy

Whereas the Ministry of Health works together with a provincial health authority, five regional health authorities, and a First Nations health authority to provide high quality, appropriate and timely health services to British Columbians; And whereas most British Columbia hospitals are over capacity and demand for hospital care is at an all-time high; And whereas all hospitals care for many types of injuries and emergency conditions ranging from minor to severe, but not all Health Centers are designated as a Trauma Center resulting in patients travelling long distances for minor trauma and experiencing long waiting periods in those Centers: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Ministry of Health to look at granting more autonomy to rural and remote health care centers in order to be able to administer minor trauma care and alleviate pressure on emergency room wait times.