SURREY – More musical chairs adds to the chaos at the Fraser Health Authority as interim CEO Keith Anderson is being replaced with another interim CEO, Betty Ann Busse, New Democrat MLA Bruce Ralston said today.

“After 30 months with no permanent CEO for the region we are being told that one interimBruce Ralston officer is being replaced with another,” said Ralston, the MLA for Surrey-Whalley. “Fraser Health is the fastest growing region in the province with very real challenges facing it. It is unacceptable that we are still playing musical chairs with such an important position.”

Yesterday Gordon Barefoot, the Chair of Fraser Health announced that Keith Anderson would be leaving the post of interim CEO on August 1, 2007.

“My question is why is Mr. Anderson leaving before the permanent CEO is in place. How many more interim CEO’s will there be before the position is filled permanently?

“This just adds to the instability the health authority is struggling with already as a result of under-funding by the Premier and the Health Minister,” said Ralston.

In February 2005 Bob Smith was fired as the CEO of the Fraser Health Authority. Since then Keith Anderson has been acting as the interim CEO, but is now scheduled to exit that position only to be replaced by another interim officer.

“We know that Fraser Health is facing severe budget shortfalls handed down by the Campbell government – shortfalls that are causing growing waitlists, increased cancellations of surgical and diagnostic procedures, and challenges to patient care,” said Ralston. “The Premier and the Health Minister have failed in their duty to manage our health care system and to put patients first.”

Bruce Ralston

Surrey-Whalley

Bruce Ralston was re-elected as the MLA for Surrey - Whalley on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.