Multi-level care no longer restricted to private operators, says Priddy

Health minister's announcement will be hot topic at public meeting on privatization of seniors' care Tuesday evening Local Medicare advocates are optimistic that a broadening of the guidelines for building and operating new seniors' care facilities announced Friday by Health Minister Penny Priddy means that the regional health board won't be forced to choose a private operator for a new multi-level care facility in Nanaimo. The new policy will be a topic of discussion at a public meeting on the privatization of seniors' care to be held tomorrow in Nanaimo. Tuesday, June 22, 7:00 p.m. Tally-Ho Hotel 1 Terminal Road "Minister Priddy has made a positive move, giving not-for-profit groups the opportunity to continue their critical involvement in the provision of seniors' care," says HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt. "It's a big improvement on the previous policy which restricted new multi-level care facilities to private corporations." The Central Vancouver Island Regional Health Board - despite its expressed concerns about its ability to efficiently integrate seniors' care services if a new multi-level care facility was privately operated - is poised to choose a private corporation to provide a much needed 125-bed facility in the Nanaimo area within a week. But in the wake of the Health Minister's announcement, the organizers of tomorrow evening's public meeting are hoping a non-profit alternative is now a possibility. A collection of labour and community organizations including groups representing seniors, students, Medicare proponents and health care workers' unions are co-sponsoring the meeting.