The South Delta Public Health Unit is not shutting down, despite a plan to amalgamate staff in North Delta.
That's the assurance from Fraser Health, which confirmed staff from the health unit in Ladner's civic precinct will soon move to North Delta.
"To continue providing core public health programs, Fraser Health is adjusting the staffing model at the Delta public health units by pooling staffing resources of the North and South Delta public health units into a single team," according to a statement by the health authority.
"This team will operate out of the North Delta Public Health Unit.
The South Delta Public Health Unit will remain open as a satellite site. The new staffing model will allow staff to travel to the South Delta Public Health Unit to provide services to clients. Our intent is for there to be little to no impact for clients as they can continue to access services through the South Delta Public Health Unit," the statement reads.
The change is scheduled to take effect in January 2014.
Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington said according to correspondence she's received after her inquiry, it looks like only some services will remain here and residents will have to travel to North Delta for everything else.
"They say the former South Delta Public Health (Unit) will continue to provide some services, such as immunization and breastfeeding support. The services available to clients remain unchanged, (but) that doesn't mean they're available here," Huntington said.
"It's all in the wording. It says while they recognize that this change may pose a challenge for some clients, it will enhance their ability to meet the demand for services across the community. It means services now here you will have to access in North Delta, which is unacceptable."
Huntington said the health region shouldn't be surprised these changes will cause concern and angst in this community, knowing how sensitive the public has been to previous health and hospital cuts.
The South Delta Health Unit is one of 18 operated by the health region, offering a variety of services ranging from breastfeeding and HIV/AIDS/hepatitis support to chronic disease prevention, tuberculosis testing and more.
A communications person with the B.C. Nurses Union told the Optimist the union has been informed there will be six parttime nurses laid off, but the health region is adding one additional full-time nurse. Not clear what that will mean for patient care, the union notes that's all it knows at this point.
Saying the staffing model is still being finalized, FHA spokesperson Nafisa Abdulla said as a satellite site, clients will receive the same services as they did in the past.
Mayor Lois Jackson said it's not clear what impacts there will be for residents with a satellite unit, but the municipality will, for now, assume it's business as usual. She said Delta recently agreed to a five-year lease renewal for the South Delta facility.
