Editor:
Re: Delta Hospice’s Angelina Ireland responds to Dix announcement, Feb. 26
In just three months, the Delta Hospice Society board of directors has destroyed what took decades to establish. It’s lost something very precious to our community, the Irene Thomas Hospice.
The hospice was not theirs to lose; it belongs to the community of Delta. It is not a private facility as Angelina Ireland repeatedly states. It is the community of Delta that has supported the development of the Delta Hospice Society through considerable financial and volunteer support.
In addition, the actions of this board have shown no regard for the incredibly dedicated staff and volunteers that are the heart of Delta Hospice, many who have been working at the Irene Thomas Hospice since it opened 10 years ago.
At the current time, Susan Rivers, Elizabeth Lawson, Danielle Martel, Mark Ruelle and Jim Taggart join Ireland to form the board. This board seems to be a small group of individuals with pro-life beliefs who have taken control imposing their personal beliefs on the society. Martel has made it very public that the current situation is a “pro-life win.”
Though they are entitled to their beliefs, they are not entitled to impose their religious values on our community. This board has had a revolving door over the past three months with five of the once eight members leaving due to Ireland’s leadership. They will forever be known as those that gambled with Fraser Health Authority and the Ministry of Health and lost. Shame on them.
The Delta Hospice Society website states: “In 2010 Delta Hospice contracted with Fraser Health for operating funds for the Irene Thomas Hospice making Delta Hospice accountable to Fraser Health.” Clearly, there was an understanding the hospice society must follow the policies as set out by Fraser Health.
Ireland reports she is “shocked and outraged” that the Ministry of Health and Fraser Health Authority gave notice to end the service contract to fund the Irene Thomas Hospice. She has also made it known of two conversations with Fraser Health executives where she was advised that non-compliance with health authority policy to allow Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) could result in the loss of funding. I believe there were also at least two written communications from Fraser Health with very specific deadlines expressing their expectations regarding MAiD.
How can she be shocked when she was told numerous times what the consequences would be of not complying with the contract? Fraser Health and the Ministry of Health had no obligation to consult or negotiate.
Ireland also quotes: “MAiD is a separate public health care stream, distinct and apart from palliative care.” Hospice/palliative care has evolved over the years with many specialized nurses and physicians, including those who work at the Irene Thomas Hospice, embracing MAiD as a part of end of life care.
These dedicated health professionals see first-hand the suffering of their patients when pain and symptoms cannot be effectively managed and want MAiD to be available onsite. Though the Irene Thomas Hospice staff have expressed their views on MAiD to Ireland, she has disregarded their professional experience and desires for the best patient care.
The community of Delta has made it very clear, through the Discovery Research survey as well as the outrage by many, many citizens, that MAiD should be a part of the continuum of services at the Irene Thomas Hospice.
Ireland and fellow directors need to resign and allow true community representatives to save what is left of Delta Hospice Society and work collaboratively with Fraser Health to ensure a smooth transition over the next year to ensure hospice services remain in Delta.
Rose Wood
