loading...
Dr. Robert Halpenny
A letter to Dr. Robert Halpenny, CEO of the Interior Health Authority,
Dear Robert,
Thanks for the interview the other day and congratulations on your affirmation as the CEO of Interior Health.
I think your background, coming as you do from the medical side, rather than the administrative side of health care, will help you in your new position. As well, your experience in both the Canadian and American health care systems, should provide you with some insights that others may not have.
You seem well qualified to lead the health authority into the future and I predict you will enjoy your job – for about two more months.
For that’s when the collective agreement with the first two of the major health care unions expires – the Health Services Association and the Hospital Employees Union. It’s too bad you’re going to get such a short honeymoon.
Your boss, Gordon Campbell, bought himself some labour peace through the 2010 Olympics back in 2006/2007 by signing longer-than-normal collective agreements with both unions, but all good things come to an end.
I sure hope you get to enjoy the Olympics, maybe take in a few events, because after March 31 the ceasefire is over. Gordo doesn’t have the cash to pay for any kind of wage or benefit increases, let alone the $3, 000 signing bonuses he doled out back then.
I’m predicting the militant hospital cleaners, cooks, housekeepers and licensed practical nurses have long memories. Most won’t have forgotten the huge pay cuts Campbell foisted on them in 2003, bonuses be damned. The paramedicals don’t have any love for him either.
I know I asked you about your education and medical background during our interview, but I forgot to ask you if have thick skin. You’re going to need it.
The union rank-and-file may curse Campbell’s name when the inevitable acrimonious negotiations begin, but they will also be cursing yours, as the man on the ground in the Interior Health Authority, especially if the premier imposes a contract, as he has a habit of doing. That’s one of the problems with a job that has lots of responsibility, but very little real power, what with all the targeted spending and mandatory programs and services.
Your predecessor, Murray Ramsden, found that out the hard way. If you haven’t already, talk to Murray about the fun he had during those heady early days of regionalization. Maybe that’s why he packed it in. Murray was much too polite to say it when I last talked to him, but I’m sure he doesn’t have the stomach to go through all that again.
Even if Campbell can muzzle those unions with court orders and essential service legislation, lurking behind them are the doctors and nurses. The collective agreement with the B.C. Nurses Union and the physicians master agreement run out in 2012. If you think the paramedicals and the HEU are tough, they’ve got nothing on the doctors and nurses when it comes to hardcore bargaining.
Robert, you told me that one of your goals is something you called “clinical integration,” getting those involved in patient care into the decision-making process, while at the same time convincing them of the need to make the system sustainable.
Good luck with that. The nurses are used to regular pay increases, playing as they do on their image of being the backbone of the health care system.
And the docs, well, they’re in a world of their own. As I recall from my own years of covering the health beat, the doctors, during one of the previous negotiations, actually suggested cutting wages for other unions, so they could get an increase in their Medical Services Plan billings. Now that’s solidarity.
The scary part for you, Robert, is that all this is happening during a grim time of promised restraint by the Liberal government. They’ve maxed out the provincial treasury, what with all that stimulus spending and the tab for that big party known as the Olympics. The party’s almost done and the hangover is about to begin.
And that’s not all. You of all people, I’m sure, are well aware of the demographic tsunami heading your way. The Baby Boomers are starting to retire, which is going to make it tough to keep Interior Health properly staffed.
They’re also retiring with a host of chronic illnesses, those so-called lifestyle diseases. The ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s were good to them, but you can’t live that excessive lifestyle for too long before it catches up with you. You know those Boomers. They want it all and they want it now, and that includes health procedures on demand. That means wait lists and cranky customers. Not fun.
When I asked you about the differences, good and bad, between the American and Canadian health care systems, you were very diplomatic. I liked what you said about our universal system and how you don’t think anyone should be financially ruined by a health care problem.
My only question is what do we do if the whole system goes broke? You’re already facing a $20-million budget deficit for next year and who knows what it’s going to be the year after that. I guess we can only hope that the economy surges back to life and once again fills the provincial coffers. Otherwise, you will likely look back on your tenure as CEO of Interior Health with very little affection.
Yours truly,
John McDonald
250-575-0521
2 Responses to “The fun’s about to end for the new CEO of the Interior Health Authority”
Tags: b.c.nurses union, health sciences association, hospital employees union, interior health, medical service plan, Olympics, roberty halpenny
loading...
I can’t wait, first the Olympics out of control and the debt will go on for years. Second the bitter labour disputes are about to crop up everywhere and the government
is going to claim its out of money. This place is going to
demonstrate a few summers of discontent that will be unending. All so we could have a seventeen day romp in the
snow at taxpayers expense
loading...
Well written article and about right on target. Except for one thing. The “Health Authorities” are a major part of the problem. Just look at how Campbell’s hand picked minions at the authorities closed about half the beds in this province along with entire hospitals and yet they didn’t manage to save even one cent.
But they fixed up the entry of all the hospitals and bought fleets of cars, armies of administrators, and entire PR departments. Its all about appearances NOT health care.
BC should follow Alberta’s lead and get rid of these useless, wasteful monstrosities that are merely PR focused organizations who sole function is to deflect accountability from politicians to their hired fall-boys at the “Authorities”
Please continue discussion on the forum: link