Vaughn Palmer: Gag order or not, B.C.’s hospital crisis story is spreading

VICTORIA — The B.C. health care system remains in crisis, despite government efforts to keep a lid on the extent of the problem.

Ground Zero for the controversy is beleaguered Surrey Memorial Hospital.

Earlier this month, a group of Surrey doctors banded together to issue a cautionary letter and establish a website — Hospital In Crisis — to alert the public that some patients were suffering and others dying because of deteriorating care at the overwhelmed facility.

The doctors did so anonymously, fearing retribution.

Then one of their number, emergency room Dr. Jesse Gill, came forward to spell out concerns about congestion in the emergency department and shortages of admitting doctors and acute care beds.