Policy session comes amid a continuing health care crisis that in recent months saw several deaths attributed to long waits for ambulances
He spoke of challenges including the shortage of family doctors, nurses and ambulances, and the increasing complexity of care that comes with an aging population. The Health Minister made no new promises to the ballroom of delegates, as some had anticipated, but reiterated work in progress: making new hires, changing the way family doctors are paid and dismantling barriers to bringing in internationally educated physicians.
Ashcroft – a village of about 1,650 people, 100 kilometres west of Kamloops – once had a full-service hospital, complete with operating theatre, maternity suite and 24-hour emergency department. Ms. Roden said they were “chipped away, one by one” over the past 10 to 15 years, leaving the village now with just 29 hours of emergency service each weekend. People requiring emergency services outside of these hours are asked to go to Kamloops.
“He was trying to cut us off at the pass,” Mr. Blackwell said. “It was an angry, pre-emptive speech against people who want to help. We all know health care workers are heroes in this. … He came across like we would be critical without being empathetic to the people in the system.” Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian had gone into Tuesday’s plenary hoping to hear an update on the recruitment and retention of family physicians. He estimates that between 30,000 and 40,000 residents in his city do not have a family doctor, leading to increased pressure on emergency departments. Kamloops also receives patients who have been diverted from Clearwater and Ashcroft.
He credited Mr. Dix for speaking on reviewing pay, retention, physician attachment and better processing foreign credentials, but said the problem is getting worse.
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