Interior Health is continuing their effort to prevent future emergency room service interruptions, but can’t say it won’t happen again.
Both in 100 Mile House and more recently Williams Lake, the emergency rooms have been facing closures due to staffing.
Executive Director for Clinical Operations, Karen Cooper says the Cariboo region is a part of a larger scale challenge.
“We’re facing challenges recruiting both physicians, nurses and other health professionals both in Williams Lake and 100 Mile.”
“I would say that our staffing levels are more stable in the 100 Mile area, but it’s become more difficult to recruit staff, particularly into rural and remote communities. We’re definitely feeling the impact.”
Cooper says Williams Lake will be getting five new physicians within six months, but is nearly overshadowed by three physicians leaving, giving the community a net gain of two.
This is extending Interior Health’s short term plan to stabilize staffing from months to years.
She added the departures are for reasons such as to be closer with family, or different lifestyle, which only solidifies the point that it takes a community to have providers feel welcome.
As to where staffing is compared to pre-covid, Copper says they haven’t reached the point they want, but are continuing to improve.