Delta Councillor Demands Public Health Emergency Declaration

Delta’s emergency room (ER) has closed for the fourth time this year, prompting city councillor Dylan Kruger to urge his fellow council members to declare a public health emergency. The recent shutdown lasted over 12 hours, raising concerns about the community’s access to essential healthcare services.

Kruger described the closure as unacceptable, highlighting the severe healthcare limitations faced by residents. “We have no urgent care centre in our community. We have virtually no walk-in clinics. We have a shortage of family doctors. It is a public health crisis,” he stated during an interview with 1130 NewsRadio Vancouver. The councillor emphasized that the ongoing ER closures jeopardize the health of Delta’s residents.

The absence of an urgent care centre exacerbates the challenges facing the community. Kruger criticized the current situation, saying that immediate action is necessary to draw attention from provincial authorities. “We have to do this now. We have to make a bold statement to get the attention of decision makers in Victoria at the Ministry of Health,” he asserted.

In light of these developments, Kruger plans to present a motion to the Delta City Council on Monday evening. He stressed the need for a comprehensive plan to prevent future ER closures, stating, “Platitudes are not good enough. Talking points are not good enough. We need to know what is the plan today to make sure we don’t see a closure of our ER room ever again.”

Kruger’s call for action reflects a broader concern about healthcare standards in Canada. He expressed frustration that, despite living in a G7 nation, residents face significant barriers to accessing emergency healthcare. “People expect… if you pay your property taxes, if you pay your income taxes, you’re going to have access to things like emergency healthcare when you need it,” he noted. He added, “We’re failing at that basic standard. We’re failing at the standard of care that is expected in a country like ours. We have to do better.”

Kruger is urging the provincial government and Fraser Health to allocate immediate resources to address these issues. The councillor’s proactive approach seeks to ensure that Delta residents receive the healthcare services they deserve without further interruptions.

As the council prepares to deliberate on Kruger’s motion, the community watches closely, hoping for swift and effective solutions to the ongoing healthcare crisis. The demand for urgent action underscores the significant challenges facing Delta’s healthcare system and the crucial need for support from provincial officials.