Vital agency or unnecessary bureaucracy? B.C.'s $10M department you've never heard of
Planning for and co-ordination of medical resources during natural disasters, pandemics and other emergencies is important, but is a separate agency required when B.C.'s health authorities still have to do the heavy lifting?
That’s the question arising from a CTV News analysis of Health Emergency Management BC, an agency that few in emergency preparedness or the health-care system have ever heard of, but has been costing taxpayers nearly $10 million a year in operating costs alone.
The agency's mandate is described as largely advisory – co-ordinating and planning – with the health authorities making decisions and executing responses that require redeployment or reconfiguration of medical resources. If there’s wild weather on the way, for example, HEMBC will make sure the relevant health authorities, ministries, emergency response leaders and meteorologists discuss the risks and options.
HEMBC is referenced in some health authority documents involving planning for heat events, and the Provincial Health Services Authority has an informational video on its website, but even that branch of the provincial health system is poorly understood. Questions around the actual role that HEMBC plays on the ground – and whether it's even needed – led to an exclusive interview with the agency's executive director.
In a wide-ranging discussion, John Lavery explained that HEMBC’s role traditionally focussed on disaster training simulations at hospitals and airports, as well as planning and co-ordination of health-care resources, personnel and patients during natural disasters. The agency has been performing a secretariat role during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in allegations of obfuscation of hospital outbreak reporting.
“We had over 75 emergency operation centres or EOCs activated throughout the pandemic,” Lavery said, insisting it wasn’t HEMBC's role to determine why outbreaks happened, nor what to do about them.
“It's the health authority that takes the lead on the after-action reviews.”
Several sources have told CTV News there’s a “challenging” relationship between the province’s five health authorities, with competition for resources and funding. Established in 2013, HEMBC appears to be designed to overcome that inherent friction by getting everyone in the same room together and acting as a third-party to mediate how to proceed in an emergency.
“We can make recommendation on actions, and then bring them together to have those discussions,” said Lavery. “It's ultimately their decision, but we provide them the best information we can and provide them support.”
ROLE UNCHANGED DURING HEAT DOME
CTV News asked Lavery why HEMBC didn’t take a more active role during the heat dome, when more than 600 British Columbians died after what the provincial health officer acknowledged was a typical response to a very exceptional forecast and weather pattern.
“We do notify the health authorities when there are things happening and start that conversation around what the response should be,” he said, again insisting that actions are up to health authorities and HEMBC is just a facilitator.
“Our communications department circulate information to staff, usually to their leadership team, to let them know there's a possibility a heat warning is coming in two or three days and reminding them of actions they should take.”
That communication did not reach everyone who needed it. Few knew the “level 2 heat alert” issued as the heat dome was ramping up was unprecedented, and even within health authorities, staff dramatically underestimated how bad it would be.
Lavery pointed out HEMBC rented fans and air conditioners, which they distributed to unspecified locations during the heat dome.
UNECESSARY BUREAUCRACY OR VITAL CO-ORDINATOR?
HEMBC is responsible for four “hospital in a box” units that can be deployed to flooding or fire-ravaged areas of the province to be unpacked and set up in gymnasiums or other temporary locations. A mobile medical unit used during the 2010 Olympics is also in their arsenal.
They also set up the temporary field hospital in the Vancouver Convention Centre at the start of the pandemic, which was never used and the subject of criticism, since health-care workers said there simply weren’t enough of them to operate it in the event of hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
Whether it’s the equipment, training or co-ordination efforts, the question is why HEMBC is needed when the health authorities have to staff and implement plans when required – particularly at a time when health-care funding is one of the top issues in the province.
CTV News asked Lavery whether HEMBC is good value for money for taxpayers, when its role seems to largely duplicate services and roles.
“The work we're doing is providing support directly to the health authorities,” he said. “If it wasn't being done by our program, the health authorities would have to hire people to do the same work.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.