My response from VCH

Well got my response. I am kind of reading between the lines but am getting the feeling that EVENTUALLY they will start (maybe not in our lifetime though) Elaine From: Brown, Nicky [VA] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 1:22 PM To: Elaine Chilman Cc: Goodreau, Ida [CORP]; Warnock, Garth [VA] Subject: Weight Loss Surgery Sent on behalf of Janet Davidson: Dear Ms. Chilman: Thank you for your further email regarding the provision of provincially funded gastric bypass (bariatric) surgery. It would be inappropriate for us to comment on information provided to you, or tests requisitioned by your surgeon, and we encourage you to follow up with him in this regard. As indicated, preliminary high level discussions are taking place with the Ministry of Health, regional health authorities and the Provincial Health Services Authority on this issue, however, it is too early in the process to speculate about the future or timing of such a program. As discussions progress, the medical community will be informed of developments and they, in turn, will be able to provide information to their patients as it becomes available. Again, thank you for your comments. Sincerely, Janet Davidson, O.C., MHSA Chief Operating Officer Vancouver Acute

Hi Elaine, Thanks for posting this. Even though there doesn't seem to be a scrap of hope in the reply, at least we know that they are reading our letters. Janice