Municipalities deal with ER closures

“Do I think Northern Health or the provincial government are working to withhold medical services to our community? Certainly not,” says Mayor Joan Atkinson. “You know, it’s a very difficult situation. And this is not a northern B.C. problem or a British Columbia problem. It’s right across the country. There are not enough health professionals.”

Last week, Health Minister Adrian Dix lifted the vaccine mandate, opening the doors for the return of healthcare workers to the system.

“So I’m glad they’ve done it. I’ve always said it’s never the wrong time to make the right decision, but we’re paying a huge price by having sidelined thousands of healthcare workers at a time when we so desperately need them,” says Falcon. “So let’s just hope that they can be hired immediately, especially those nurses and doctors and carers, and help us in the crisis that we’re in today.”

And that’s a sentiment shared by Mayor Atkinson, who says every little bit helps.

“Those people who unfortunately felt they had to step away from their jobs did it for their own personal reasons. And we have to respect that. So I’m just hoping that they recognize how desperate our province needs, their skill and expertise. One nurse, ten nurses, 100 nurses, every every body makes a difference.”

She adds everyone in her community has access to a doctor as well as ambulance services, adding anything serious would be treated in Prince George anyway.

by Cheryl Jahn

Municipalities deal with ER closures

What's Trending