‘We’re making progress’ on Surrey health care improvements, Dix says

British Columbia’s health minister says the provincial government is making good progress on addressing gaps in Surrey’s health-care system.

“Everything we said we’d do, we’re doing,” said Adrian Dix at a news conference outside Surrey Memorial Hospital Friday.

Dix took reporters through a lengthy list of actions the province is taking to address what’s been described as a “crisis” in the Fraser Health Authority.

Among those actions, Dix explains, is hiring more internationally trained workers throughout the region. He says 146 people have been hired, with 39 of them dedicated to Surrey Memorial Hospital. He adds that another 210 hires are currently in progress.

“We’re making progress but the demand is significant and we’ve got to continue to work together,” he said.

Related Stories: 

• Protest planned over Surrey Memorial Hospital’s underfunding

• Surrey Hospitals Foundation releases report addressing city’s health care crisis

• Fraser Health doctors incentivized to help Surrey Memorial Hospital

Dix also highlights investments into psychological services in the health authority and says plans to build a second hospital in Surrey are in the works.

While he acknowledged more work still needs to be done to fill some of the health-care gaps, Dix on Friday blamed some of the current shortfalls on the previous Liberal government’s “years of neglect.”

“Surrey, more than any other community in British Columbia, suffered most from the neglect of the health-care system from 2001 to 2017. Why? Because the population here was increasing while they were making their health-care decisions,” he said.

“So, we are taking and we have taken specific, urgent actions to assist in the situation, but some of this requires action that takes a longer period.”

Dix’s remarks come as health-care workers are planning a rally outside Surrey City Hall, set to take place Saturday afternoon, calling on the province to increase funding for Surrey Memorial Hospital.

He says he plans to provide another update on health measures in December.

BC United pushes back on NDP’s criticism of state of health care

Meanwhile, as the BC NDP points the finger at the former provincial government for the state of health care in Surrey, BC United is pushing back.

Elenore Sturko, opposition MLA for Surrey South, isn’t taking much away from Dix’s update, including his decision to blame some of the current shortfalls on the then-Liberal government’s “years of neglect.”

“The reality is is that Minister Dix has absolutely failed, and we would be miles ahead of where we are today, we would not necessarily be in the place that we are right now if Minister Dix had listened to the concerns of doctors, if they had not tried to downplay the severity of the crisis that we’re in,” Sturko said.

Sturko says the timing of Dix’s progress report — just a day before the rally — is something to take note of.

“The last time, when the tower was announced, that also came before a day of criticism. So no, I’m not surprised that he would make this progress report today,” she said Friday.

“I’m really glad to see doctors being able to come forward, members of the community coming forward. The reality is is that the disparity between the health services people receive on the north side and on the south side of the Fraser is a huge gap. We could be miles ahead of where we are in terms of the services available to people south of the Fraser if Minister Dix had listened to the concerns of doctors long before it ever came to this kind of action.”

With files from Srushti Gangdev and OMNI News

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to show the rally planned for Saturday is set to take place outside Surrey City Hall.