Private Hospital Could Be More Costly

Private Hospital Could Cost More

Hospital Union releases forensic audit of private hospital plan

Hospital Employees' Union press conference

VANCOUVER, Wednesday MAY 8, 2002:
A privately owned and financed hospital for Abbotsford could result in a much more costly alternative than a traditional publicly owned and financed facility, forensic accountant Ron Parks concludes in his review of a controversial $250,000 government health care privatization study.

Commissioned by the Hospital Employees' Union (CUPE) and released today at a Vancouver media conference, Parks� review also warns that the privatization study prepared for Victoria by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers relies on �suspect data�, is inconclusive and �should not be used as the basis for a definitive government decision,� on how to proceed with the project to replace Abbotsford�s aging MSA hospital.

�If Victoria wants to pursue a private-public partnership (P3) policy for health care or public infrastructure projects,� says Parks, �it definitely has a lot more homework to do.�

The Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) is urging the Campbell Liberals to heed Parks� findings and move quickly to meet the health care needs of Fraser Valley residents. �Our message to the Premier is very clear,� says union spokesperson Chris Allnutt. �The hospital should be built public, and it should be built now.�

Intro: Chris Allnutt, Hospital Employees' Union RT 1:29

Click here for Windows Media Player downloadable

Ron Parks, Forensic Auditor RT 9:43

Chris Allnutt RT 2:00

Marjorie Mansell, Old Age Pensioners' Organization of B.C. RT 0:53

Linda Thuler, finance department and HEU rep, MSA General Hospital in Abbotsford RT 0:55

Media Questions RT 8:26

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This Page Updated January 3, 2003