BURNABY (NEWS1130) – A controversial committee report is slamming Fraser Health, finding Burnaby Hospital is old, underfunded, potentially dangerous, and needs replacing.

BC’s health minister is promising action; Margaret MacDiarmid says the report is being taken very seriously.

“Hundreds of people had input into this report. We’ve already known that this is an older hospital and that it’s in need of replacement. That.. master planning process, is already underway,” says MacDiarmid.

But she says it will take some time to see changes. “Not to take anything away from this report, but when we look around the province… there’s investment all over the place. This one will happen, as well. I certainly acknowledge that the need is there.”

The report finds aging buildings allow for the easy spread of infection. C. difficile outbreaks have plagued the facility.

There is a lack of washrooms and the hospital does not have enough staff or beds. In fact, Burnaby Hospital has more visits to the ER than Royal Columbian, but has just over half the number of beds.

Problems are so bad, the annual Christmas tree now can’t be plugged in because it could overload the electrical systems.

MacDiarmid strongly denies it, but NDP Health Critic Mike Farnworth has long-called this exercise a political game; he says the report is a disappointment.

“The report tells us what we already know, which is there are real challenges and issues at Burnaby Hospital. That’s not new. We’ve been asking questions around Burnaby Hospital in the legislature for a number of years now.”

Farnworth says leaked e-mails show the Liberals wanted the report out in enough time to potentially win a seat in Burnaby-Deer Lake.

“The report also confirms what those emails wanted to see happen, which was that the Fraser Health Authority take the blame for this… no blame on the government. In other words, throw Fraser Health under the bus,” he adds.

Dr. David Jones with the committee says it’s time for government act. “Burnaby Hospital doesn’t have any… media campaigns. We’ve kept our heads down, we just get the work done. Well, over the last year, that’s all changed. We’re on everybody’s radar now.”

“It needs revitalization; a re-build to serve the citizens of the province that look to it for health care,” adds Jones.