The NDP Record

The BC Liberal Record

Doctors

Not one new medical training space created to train new doctors.

40 doctors left rural communities in 1999 alone. Dozens more left during the decade.

Doctors

Nearly doubled the number of doctors in training at any one time – from 488 to 896 (by 2008) – with new medical school campuses at Prince George and Victoria.

Attracted more family physicians and specialists from across Canada than any other province. (2003)

Nurses

Eliminated 1,600 full-time nursing positions between 1993 and 1997.

Cut training positions for nurses.

Trained no nurse practitioners.

Nurses

Added 2,500 new nurse training spaces – that’s nearly 30 times more than the NDP created during the entire 1990s.

600 more nurses hired.

First-ever class of nurse practitioners graduating this year.

Seniors care beds

Average wait for residential care bed was 360 days (as of 2000).

Reduced number of long-term care beds by 18% between 1994-99.

Seniors care beds

Average wait for residential care bed is as low as 28 days (Fraser Health Authority).

Built more than 4,000 new, replacement or upgraded seniors’ care beds since 2001.

1,700 seniors’ care units being built right now.

Will achieve our goal of 5,000 new beds by

2008.

Health Equipment

Not one new MRI machine added in 10 years.

Health Equipment

Increased the number of MRI machines by 75%, increased access to renal dialysis by 40%, and added 23% more CT scanners.

Health Facilities

Broken promises to build health facilities like:

·         MSA Hospital (Abbotsford)

·         Kamloops Cancer Clinic

·         Kamloops psychiatric clinic

·         3^rd floor of G.R. Baker (Quesnel)

·         Vancouver General Hospital tower

Health Facilities

·         Building Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre.

·         Opened the Jim Pattison Pavilion at VGH.

·         Built Kamloops Mental Health Facility

·         Expanded and upgraded hospitals in Prince George, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Cranbrook, and many other communities.

Mental Health

NDP announced a $125-million Mental Health Plan but didn’t provide any funding for it.

“While it was announced, it was never in a budget. There wasn’t budget approval.” – NDP Health Minister Penny Priddy (Source: Vancouver Sun, 1 Apr 2000)

Mental Health

Fully funding $125 million Mental Health Plan.

Also funding a $138 million capital plan to build new mental health facilities across the province from Victoria to Kamloops and from Prince George to Terrace.

Waste

Hundred of millions wasted on 52 health regions.

Waste

We reduced the number of health authorities from 52 to six, saving $100 million in administration that being reinvested in better services and new technology.

Prescription drugs

Prescription drug program that charged more to people with lower incomes than higher incomes.

Prescription drugs

Under Fair Pharmacare, if you earn less, you pay less.

Reduced prescription costs for 280,000 seniors and low-income families. Today 82% of all British Columbians pay the same or less than they did in 2001.

We have the best catastrophic drug coverage in the country, and lead the country in the number of drug classes funded.