Another B.C. direct patient care service to close

"The Work Ability Centre is renowned for the quality of their programming. If anything, it should be expanded, not closed down." Darryl Walker, president BCGEU/NUPGE

Vancouver (10 Dec. 2009) - The Work Ability Centre at George Pearson Centre is yet another in a growing list of direct patient care services to get the axe according to the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).

"I'm astounded the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCHA) is closing this first-class rehab program," said Darryl Walker, BCGEU president. "It makes no sense - economic or otherwise. WorkSafe and insurance companies pay on a fee-for-service basis, so there is little to no cost-saving to terminating the program."

"The Work Ability Centre is renowned for the quality of their programming. If anything, it should be expanded, not closed down."

Walker said he is troubled by the cuts health authorities are making to preventative health care services like the Work Ability Centre.

"Correspondence from VCHA states that they are shifting resources from a focus on prevention to one of disability management. Decades of research tells us that a focus on prevention not only reduces illness and injury but also costs to our health care system - yet this government is moving in the opposite direction."

The Work Ability Centre provides physical and psychological rehabilitation services to clients referred by WorkSafe BC and third-party insurers. The BCGEU represents four workers at the centre, including occupational therapists.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE