'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
Statistics Canada reports real GDP grew 0.3 per cent in October
Statistics Canada says the economy grew 0.3 per cent in October, helped by strength in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector, following a 0.2 per cent increase in September.
Greenland is not for sale, its leader says in response to Trump
Greenland is not for sale, its elected leader said on Monday, responding to comments made by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump regarding the 'ownership and control' of the vast Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for over 600 years.
LIVE UPDATES Parts of Ontario under snowfall warning Monday as holiday travellers hit the road
Holiday travellers and commuters could be in for a messy drive on Monday morning as a significant round of snowfall moves into the region. Here are live updates on the situation in Toronto.
U.S. House Ethics report finds evidence Matt Gaetz paid thousands for sex and drugs including paying a 17-year-old for sex in 2017
The U.S. House Ethics Committee found evidence that former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex or drugs on at least 20 occasions, including paying a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017, according to a final draft of the panel's report on the Florida Republican, obtained by CNN.
The rent-a-friend industry is booming among Canada's Chinese diaspora
Dozens of people are offering rent-a-friend services on Xiaohongshu, a social media platform also known as Little Red Book or China's Instagram, in cities including Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.
Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before president-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office.
Nordstrom agrees to US$6.25B buyout deal from founding family
Nordstrom said on Monday it would be acquired by its founding family and Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool in an all-cash deal valuing the department store chain at about US$6.25 billion.
Green Party's Elizabeth May reflects on unprecedented week in Canadian politics
Elizabeth May says in all her years on Parliament Hill she has never seen anything like the last week in Canadian politics.
Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker
Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger that would form the world's third-largest automaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels.