Skip to content

OUR VIEW: Horgan’s hospital promise for Surrey is anemic when it comes to details

While short on specifics in its recent announcement in Surrey, at least the NDP is raising the issue. Indeed, Surrey does need another hospital.
web1_170502-SNW-M-Toonink6042_BCPromises-choriz-

In typical NDP fashion, the party’s big announcement in Surrey on Monday seems like it could have been written on a post-it note.

They vow that if elected, they will start planning for construction of a new hospital for Surrey.

While short on specifics, at least the NDP is raising the issue. Indeed, Surrey does need another hospital.

In recent years we’ve written many stories in this publication that highlight the need for another such facility.

Like Surrey’s jam-packed schools, our hospital is under immense pressure due to the unprecedented and non-stop growth of our city.

Long wait times and patient beds lining the hallways for days on end are just two symptoms of Surrey’s ailing system.

And these are not rare occurrences – it’s the norm.

On a Monday in March, the BC Nurses’ Union told the Now-Leader that 24 patients were being cared for in emergency room hallways. Not a Friday, not a Saturday night. A Monday morning.

So, let’s give the NDP some credit for at least bringing the issue to the forefront.

But how about a plan, Mr. Horgan?

Where is the hospital going to be? How much will it cost? When will it be open?

Remember Linda Hepner’s campaign promise to have LRT up and running by 2018?

It’s one thing to throw a promise out there.

It’s another to back it up.

Now-Leader