“We can’t just keep waiting and hoping”: Hospital board feels hand was forced to back cardiac study

“I can tell you this is going back well over a year now of trying to get answers and this is publicly available information,” O’Reilly told CFJC Today. “Frankly, it’s reprehensible that we aren’t able to access data in over a year that we should be receiving.”

The requested information includes data like catheterization timelines and mortality rates for local residents who have to access cardiac care in Kelowna. O’Reilly says it consists of about a dozen questions from medical professionals who hope to analyze outcomes and make improvements that could help save lives.

“We hear, ‘Well, Kamloops doesn’t need a [catheterization] lab, it’s fine in Kelowna’ but there is nothing to support that and back that up,” O’Reilly said. “We have many people in the community who believe we need better cardiac care in Kamloops. Our board believes that as well, but without the data to back up investment decisions, it’s hard to make decisions.”

O’Reilly said its “unfortunate” the third-party study is needed, noting it is the “duty of public health agencies to ensure reasonable access to public health data.” He added the TRHD has agreed to help gather data toward a business case for a cath lab in Kamloops.

“There is a large group of philanthropists that are willing to get behind funding the construction of a lab,” he said. “Up to the tune of $15-to-$20 million is on the table should something come forward.”

“Ultimately, if a cath lab is built, the capital cost is only one piece. We need the operating dollars put in by Interior Heath and the ministry. But again, with without numbers and a business case done, the investments can’t be made.”

CFJC Today reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment, but did not hear back by deadline Thursday (April 30). In the meantime, the study continues and it is expected to wrap up in about four-to-six months.

“We can’t just keep waiting and hoping that they’re going to give us the publicly available information that we need. We need to chart on and look at what’s best for the residents of the TRHD,” added O’Reilly.

by Victor Kaisar

“We can’t just keep waiting and hoping”: Hospital board feels hand was forced to back cardiac study

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