'Extremely frustrating': Nanaimo residents discuss grappling with family doctor shortage
People in one of Vancouver Island’s largest cities are expressing frustration with their ongoing searches for family doctors – which has been an issue province-wide.
Nanaimo, B.C., resident Nancy Smith says she’s been looking for a new family physician since her doctor retired in July 2019 – and calls the current search "appalling."
"As I’m getting older I would really like to secure a doctor before I need a doctor," she told CTV News on Thursday.
The 59-year-old is relying on virtual apps like Telus Health for prescription refills. She says she’s avoided walk-in clinics like the one at Port Place Shopping Centre downtown.
By 11 a.m. Thursday morning, the clinic had a board up saying it would take 15 people at 5:30 p.m.
"Anything I’m going for, it doesn’t feel like an emergency so I don’t want to take up other people’s time with the doctors," said Smith.
She worries about the lack of routine screenings that’ve fallen off the radar since losing her doctor.
"And potentially that could be life-threatening," she added.
MAYOR WEIGHS IN
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog says even though the matter falls under provincial jurisdiction, he fields calls from residents asking for help finding physicians who may be taking patients.
"There’s no doubt everything north of the Malahat – we are underserved in a whole series of ranges, let alone family physicians as well," said Krog. "And that’s been a chronic problem for a very long time."
In a statement Thursday, the Ministry of Health touted a list of supports it has announced or is working on to improve the strains across the health-care system.
For example, the province has recently unveiled $118-million in temporary funding for family physicians to help pay overhead costs – in the interest of keeping clinics open.
The ministry also says it’s committed to changing the current payment model, which has long been criticized by family doctors.
"We know the onus on increasing primary care services can’t simply be on family doctors," added ministry spokesperson Matthew Wigmore. "That’s why team-based care, through the soon-to-be-announced Nanaimo Primary Care Network, will be important to this region."
Nanaimo’s mayor tells CTV News he personally meets with new resident doctors, promoting the city as an attractive place to practice. Krog stopped short of suggesting more drastic measures.
"Some communities are desperate and are providing housing for physicians or talking about doing it," he said.
"I don’t know that the taxpayers of Nanaimo would approve of that when you consider that many other employers are also facing staffing shortages," he said.
The group Doctors of BC estimates nearly one-million British Columbians do not have access to a family doctor.
Nanaimo’s Hali Doan says she and her five-month-old son are among them as well.
"I’ve looked within Nanaimo. I’ve also looked to Parksville, Qualicum, Ladysmith," she said.
"Everywhere is either not even taking a waitlist or no one is available. It’s extremely frustrating," said Doan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.