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
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
Israel says it reopened a key Gaza crossing after a rocket attack but the UN says no aid has entered
The Israeli military said Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed over the weekend after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.