
The two Kamloops MLAs want answers from Interior Heath and the NDP government as to why the Health Authority won’t replace a retiring eye doctor in Kamloops.
Kamloops – South Thompson opposition MLA Todd Stone says Interior Health had initially agreed that Kamloops needs three ophthalmologists.
Speaking on NL Mornings, he says he’s been told that IH claims they don’t need to replace a retiring ophthalmologist, even though the Doctor himself has found a replacement that is more than willing to relocate here.
“There’s absolutely enough need there for three ophthalmologists and frankly, if anything, we probably need more than that. Fast forward to today and apparently the IHA has advised that two ophthalmologists will be adequate for Kamloops and the region,” Stone said, noting IH’s reversal “defies logic.”
Stone says to put things into perspective, the Okanagan has 18 ophthalmologists.
“This is just representative of a long standing pattern where Kamloops and the region around Kamloops, in the northern half of Interior Health, always seems to have to fight tooth and nail for any scrap of health care that we can possibly get,” Stone said.
Stone says the Province and IHA need to do the right thing and hire the doctor that wants to come here before he changes his mind and goes somewhere else.