I’d like to address a few of the comments made in the June 7th article in the Daily Bulletin, “MLA wades into hospice situation.”

For many years, the Kimberley Hospice Society has provided excellent palliative care services to the people of Kimberley. Recently, the society announced they were ending operations, and on behalf of Interior Health and Kimberley, I want to thank them for their contribution.

Although the Kimberley Hospice Society will no longer provide volunteer support for the palliative care services offered at The Pines – the Interior Health Authority will continue to fund palliative care at this facility.

Contrary to MLA Macdonald’s comments, our government has shown a strong commitment in providing appropriate hospice services for British Columbians. Since 2001, we have increased the number of publicly subsidized hospice beds in British Columbia by over 500 per cent from 57 in 2001 to 296 today.

High quality end-of-life care is a critical health care service, and we will continue to meet our commitment to hospice care in Kimberley and across the province.

Kevin Falcon

BC Minister of Health Services