WHEREAS subsequent to a sad event which involved the transfer of an elderly and very ill patient out of the community it became clear that several families had been faced with a choice to accept a similar transfer or to return a patient in need of a long-term care bed to the home; AND WHEREAS universal health care is a Canadian value and it is unfair that a patient who has been assessed as eligible for long-term care and listed for the first available bed will receive a truly appropriate level of care only if they have the ability to pay for private service: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a person who has been assessed as meeting the standard for long-term care in a public bed, but for whom no public bed is available, shall be provided government-funded care either in a private facility bed or through home support services sufficient to provide a satisfactory level of care.
Ministry of Health The Government of British Columbia Government considers caring for British Columbias seniors a major priority. The first available bed policy is designed to meet the needs of the Province of British Columbia Province residents, by ensuring clients get the level of care they need as quickly as possible. Until a bed is available, Health Authorities provide appropriate supports for the individual in the community. Once an individual has accepted the first bed, they can still request to be moved to their preferred facility, if they choose. Health Authorities average wait times have been reduced significantly since 2001, from over a year to between one and three months in 20052006. Individuals are assessed by a health care professional and their admission to residential care is based on need, rather than chronologically. The Government is working to reduce pressures on residential care beds with a commitment to build 5,000 new beds by December 2008. Between June 2001 and December 2006, the Province has built approximately 7,200 new and replacement beds and units, including more than 2,500 net-new residential care beds, assisted living units and supportive housing with home support.