Concern out-of-town patients receiving Vancouver medical care won’t find accommodations during the World Cup

The accommodation squeeze could impact patients travelling to Vancouver for health care during the World Cup.

When Jacqueline Podewils learned her mother had reached the top of the waitlist for a life-saving double lung transplant, she jumped in to help move the then-62-year-old from Kelowna to Vancouver for three months of treatment and aftercare.

Podewils says the challenge and expense of finding temporary accommodation for her momnear Vancouver General Hospital six years ago inspired her to create Housing is Healthcare, an advocacy group calling for affordable options for out-of-town patients and their caregivers who need medical treatment in B.C.

She’s worried finding affordable accommodation near VGH and St. Paul’s Hospital will be next to impossible during the month-long World Cup event in Vancouver next June and July.

“It’s not like they’re going to want to be in Vancouver during FIFA, but they’re going to be there because they need to be. And if they make that choice to try and access care, how are they going to do it?” asked Podewils. “Are we really expecting patients to spend $2,000 a night just so they can access medical care?”

She’s calling on the B.C. government to partner with hotels like the Holiday Inn near VGH to secure a block of rooms for out-of-town patients to use during the World Cup. She says the hotel’s main market is hospital patients and their caregivers, but fears during the World Cup, tourists will take over.

“We need the province to step up. We need them to say we will pay market rates so that we can secure housing for our patients. Perhaps these are the partners that we’re going to partner with and actually provide space, and you can rely on X-Y-Z next summer if you need care,” said Podewils.

When asked about accommodation for out-of-town hospital patients and their caregivers during the World Cup, B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said it’s on her radar.

“Knowing this is coming, the planning is underway, knowing that people can come down to get their procedures or maybe their family members that are there to visit their families who are undergoing medical care. So this is part of the planning process,” said Osborne.

The lack of a timeline and specifics worries Podewils.

“I know they’re interested and I know the premier is interested, and I know this is something we all want, but we do need to act fast in this particular case,” she said, adding she’s concerned some patients who can’t afford to stay in Vancouver during the World Cup will be forced to forego care.

It’s a concern shared by Vancouver City Coun. Pete Fry.

“Unfortunately, I don’t see any way around it. I imagine that, in fact, we’ll probably see things like advanced health-care services possibly curtailed during that sort of FIFA window,” said Fry, who has been working with Podewils on advocating for permanent housing near hospitals that can be used by out-of-town patients.

Next week Podewils is meeting with officials in the NDP government to discuss the broader issue, and the World Cup period specifically. Her message?

“Unless you’re planning on not offering medical care next summer, we need a game plan so that we can house the patients who are in town for medical care.”