Editor,
The Surrey city council’s plan to hire a health-care administrator to address health-care shortages misses the mark. As someone who navigated the system for my son after his traumatic brain injury in June 2024, I urge the council to consult those with firsthand experience instead of adding bureaucracy.
The system is riddled with barriers: a four-month wait for financial aid, complex applications for medical EI and CPPD, and no response from government advocates. My son’s $1,400 monthly CPPD payment (he received his first payment a year after his accident) barely covers his $1,344 physiotherapy costs, and he was denied rent assistance. At Burnaby Hospital, we faced dismissive staff, inadequate care, and threats of security if I stayed past 6 p.m.
Fraser Health ignored my complaints, and our MP took three months to respond unhelpfully.
Rather than hiring administrators, the council should engage residents to identify real solutions—like faster aid, better advocacy, and accountability for health-care providers.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Pearson, South Surrey
