'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
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.