Milobar Right to Protest IHA Executive Shift

(Aired on April 16, 2010)

Peter Milobar is a man who picks his battles.  Kim Sigurdson can say what he wants, but the Kamloops mayor does not react emotionally to issues that arise.  That's why it was somewhat shocking to hear him blow a gasket with regards to the new Interior Health organizational structure.  It removes oversight of Royal Inland Hospital from someone who lives in Kamloops and gives it to someone who lives in Kelowna.

When you first glance at the new executive flow chart, one thing jumps out at you.  C.E.O. Dr. Robert Halpenny has removed all regional responsibilities from the executive.  For example, instead of Andrew Neuner being in charge of all health service delivery in the Kamloops-Thompson-Shuswap area, he is in charge of specific departments like Primary Care or Mental Health and Addictions throughout the entire Interior Health Authority.  One person - Joanne Konnert - is in charge of the two largest hospitals in Kamloops and Kelowna.  But another person is in charge of the regional hospitals in Vernon, Penticton, Cranbrook, and Trail, as well as all of the smaller hospitals in the interior - from Williams Lake to Grand Forks, and from Lillooet to Fernie.

This move is all about centralization.  Halpenny wants his executive under one roof.  That's fine for Vancouver Coastal Health, but the Interior Health Authority is roughly the size of Great Britain.  Communities within the authority are unique.  The needs of one hospital - our hospital - will not mirror the needs of another.  That's why Milobar is so upset, and I don't blame him.  It's compounded by the fact that - as usual - Interior Health has botched the handling of this by refusing to acknowledge Milobar's concerns.  The mayor has recognized an opportunity to stand up for his own community, and that's the first thing on his job description.