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This article appeared in the London Free Press today: Brain operation axed with LHSC out of cash Thu, February 19, 2009 Email Allan Hood had hoped brain surgery this week would cut his drug needs in half and reduce the number of days Parkinson's disease leaves him frozen, unable to move. But last Friday, the London man got the call that the surgery was cancelled indefinitely because the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) didn't have the money in its budget for the intricate procedure. It was the second time in two months Hood's operation, a procedure known as deep brain stimulation, was called off because the hospital had run out of cash for it. "This whole situation is deplorable at best. "It is a waiting game and I am watching myself get progressively worse" said Hood, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's eight years ago. London Health Sciences Centre confirmed yesterday it doesn't have money left in this year's budget for the procedure. Hood has an aggressive form of Parkinson's, a neurodegenerative disease that causes tremors, stiffness, impaired balance and muscle rigidity. To control the symptoms, he takes 29 pills a day, drugs that cost $10,000 a year. Two years ago he was referred for deep brain stimulation, in which a pacemaker-like device is implanted to provide electrical stimulation, reducing or eliminating tremors. "It isn't a decision arrived at lightly," said Hood, adding he knows the surgery has risks. "I didn't get up one morning and say I am going to have deep brain stimulation next week. This is something I have been thinking about, contemplating," he said. Beyond personal disappointment his surgery was cancelled, Hood said he's concerned London could lose the specialists that pioneered the procedure. The surgeons and neurologists shouldn't have to go, cap in hand, looking for money so they can practise, he said. "And we wonder why doctors leave for other jurisdictions," said Hood. He questioned why the province has poured money into five surgery areas -- cataract, hips, knees, cancer and cardiac -- and left the brain stimulation program without enough funding. LHSC designates a specific amount of money in its operating budget for such neurological procedures, said Kirsten Krull-Naraj, the hospital's surgery services vice president. "Unfortunately, we are at a point in the year where that money has been exhausted," she said. "While we were hoping we might see some additional revenues coming from the (Health) Ministry, there still has not been a commitment." The hospital's fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31. Going ahead with such procedures, which can cost $20,000 to $25,000 just for the supplies, isn't an option when the budget has been used up, Krull-Naraj said. "That adds up very quickly. That is the dilemma with some of these high-tech interventions," she said. "We have had to delay these cases until we are on solid ground again with finances to keep this work going." Krull-Naraj said the hospital is looking to see if it would be possible to redirect money to the area from other parts of the budget. John Miner is a Free Press health reporter JOHN.MINER@SUNMEDIA By JOHN MINER Allan Hood had hoped brain surgery this week would cut his drug needs in half and reduce the number of days Parkinson's disease leaves him frozen, unable to move. But last Friday, the London man got the call that the surgery was cancelled indefinitely because the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) didn't have the money in its budget for the intricate procedure. It was the second time in two months Hood's operation, a procedure known as deep brain stimulation, was called off because the hospital had run out of cash for it. "This whole situation is deplorable at best. "It is a waiting game and I am watching myself get progressively worse" said Hood, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's eight years ago. London Health Sciences Centre confirmed yesterday it doesn't have money left in this year's budget for the procedure. Hood has an aggressive form of Parkinson's, a neurodegenerative disease that causes tremors, stiffness, impaired balance and muscle rigidity. To control the symptoms, he takes 29 pills a day, drugs that cost $10,000 a year. Two years ago he was referred for deep brain stimulation, in which a pacemaker-like device is implanted to provide electrical stimulation, reducing or eliminating tremors. "It isn't a decision arrived at lightly," said Hood, adding he knows the surgery has risks. "I didn't get up one morning and say I am going to have deep brain stimulation next week. This is something I have been thinking about, contemplating," he said. Beyond personal disappointment his surgery was cancelled, Hood said he's concerned London could lose the specialists that pioneered the procedure. The surgeons and neurologists shouldn't have to go, cap in hand, looking for money so they can practise, he said. "And we wonder why doctors leave for other jurisdictions," said Hood. He questioned why the province has poured money into five surgery areas -- cataract, hips, knees, cancer and cardiac -- and left the brain stimulation program without enough funding. LHSC designates a specific amount of money in its operating budget for such neurological procedures, said Kirsten Krull-Naraj, the hospital's surgery services vice president. "Unfortunately, we are at a point in the year where that money has been exhausted," she said. "While we were hoping we might see some additional revenues coming from the (Health) Ministry, there still has not been a commitment." The hospital's fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31. Going ahead with such procedures, which can cost $20,000 to $25,000 just for the supplies, isn't an option when the budget has been used up, Krull-Naraj said. "That adds up very quickly. That is the dilemma with some of these high-tech interventions," she said. "We have had to delay these cases until we are on solid ground again with finances to keep this work going." Krull-Naraj said the hospital is looking to see if it would be possible to redirect money to the area from other parts of the budget. John Miner is a Free Press health reporter JOHN.MINER@SUNMEDIA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn