B.C. premier in Surrey, announcement about housing, health care expected

B.C. Premier David Eby is set to make an announcement on Tuesday regarding housing and health care in Surrey.

This follows a letter sent the previous day by a group of emergency physicians at Surrey Memorial Hospital to Fraser Health CEO Victoria Lee, expressing concerns about worsening conditions in the hospital's emergency room, which they say is resulting in substandard patient care.

The doctors noted that emergency visits have increased by 30 percent over the past four years, but the size of the department has stayed the same. They also pointed out that the number of patients leaving the ER without being seen has tripled since 2020-21.

"Yes, there’s population growth, but there’s also recruitment and retention of talent, and that’s really important to recognize," Dr. Claudine Storness-Bliss, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Surrey Memorial Hospital, told Global News.

"This has been a particular challenge in Surrey because we see a high acuity of cases—complex, seriously ill patients who really need help."

Fraser Health told Global News that it is reviewing the letter and is aware of the seriousness of the concerns. The health authority said it will respond directly to the physicians involved.