Health critic tours health facilities

She noted that Conservative MLAs lined up in the Legislature recently to list almost 20 emergency room closures since January 2023, spanning more than 1,400 days, in small, rural communities across the province.

Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens is familiar with the issue. By the end of February this year, the Mackenzie Hospital had closed 13 times.

“Mackenzie’s hospital was closed just this week, in fact, for multiple days. And it’s unacceptable. I was up there last weekend. I met with health professionals as well, and they’re doing whatever they can to keep the lights on, to keep people caring for patients, and I fully believe that we need a system that actually gives them the tools to do their job.”

And the Health Critic says it goes beyond the health authority to make that happen.

“Doctors now are being paid big bucks to go elsewhere. The same as nurses. So this community needs to look at what the issue is and maybe start pushing the health authorities to listen to them,”

While Quesnel has not experienced hospital or Emergency room closures, physician shortages is another matter.

“What we have in the rural areas all over this province is lifestyle,” says Prince George-North Cariboo MLA Sheldon Clare. “We have recreational opportunities second to none, and that has to be a big selling point. And we’ve got to get away from the competitive relationships between communities that forces bargaining, saying that ups the costs and makes doctors and nurses bargaining chips.”

The crew will also be visiting the local Hospice House and palliative care facilities.

by Cheryl Jahn

Health critic tours health facilities

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