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The buck stops where?
We’re familiar these days with politicians across the land covering their sweet political butts.
If ignoring the facts doesn’t work, change tactics. If someone brings a message something is wrong, attack them. If that doesn’t work, blame somebody else. But never, ever take full responsibility.
Remember Walkerton? Nothing happened to the councillors who kept cutting the water treatment budget. No provincial inspectors or politicians were charged.
Vegreville’s hospital was closed to new admissions and almost all visitors last week. It was discovered equipment that was supposed to be sterile was dirty and in some cases, contaminated with bits of human flesh.
Also, a so-called “super bug’’ has infected seven patients at the hospital, indicating again sloppy cleaning habits and poor sterilizing processes. Among other problems, over 80 patients at the hospital may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis.
Over a month before, Alberta health inspectors ordered the sterilizing room closed after a regular inspection found proper procedures were not followed. That didn’t happen.
The hospital is operated by a board of directors. The chair of that board, Orest Berezan, is quoted as saying, “As a board, we sincerely regret the hospital has not been able to live up to the high expectations of our community. Our commitment is to strive to meet those expectations in the future.’’
Well, Berezan might be sorry. Yet, the chief doctor at the hospital wonders what the fuss is about. “It’s just a bit of tissue,’’ he says.
In fact, both should be resigning, along with the everyone else on the hospital board.
The hospital falls under the East Central Health Region. The Region’s chief medical officer ordered the sterilization room closed in February. As soon as he heard the room was still running, he investigated and again ordered the room closed the same day. There will now be an investigation into why the room wasn’t closed.
In classic understatement, the CEO of East Central says “Clearly we are responsible. This is a serious public health matter.’’
And, in a classic example of There is Always Money to Do It Over Again, But Never Enough to Do it Right the First Time, the hospital is now being scrubbed top to bottom. Says one nurse, “Things will change quite a bit.’’
And though it seems obvious the first place change is needed is with the board of directors, that likely won’t happen. They will keep their jobs, for a while at least.
And, of course, in private they will be blaming news media for “blowing it all out of proportion.’’ And those lousy staff for not doing a good enough job. Staff just didn’t understand their training.
And don’t forget the unions. And finally, in the end, their blame will fall on our governments of the day for not giving them enough money.
Well, these are the people who get paid to go to meetings. They put their names on the ballots. They go to conventions and seminars to learn how to do a good job. Now, they duck out?
One has to wonder, is anybody in charge responsible for anything these days? If not, why are they even there?
Jeff Burgar
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