The MLA for the Merritt-area says the series of closures at the Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room is extremely frustrating.
There have been 16 closures so far this year – including a three hour closure Tuesday morning – and Jackie Tegart says people in Merritt and elsewhere are losing trust in the healthcare system.
“For one thing, it should be open,” Tegart said, on the NL Noon Report. “That is Interior Health’s business, to keep health sites open and to keep ER’s open. Its appalling how many times the ER in Merritt has been closed this year.”
The emergency room in Merritt is usually open 24/7. All of its closures this year have been due to a lack of staff – either doctors or nurses – with five occurring just last month.
Tegart says there have been “no innovative ideas” from the Province or Interior Health to address a series of closures at the Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room this year. She says these closures that tend to affect rural and remote communities the hardest.
“When you look at the amount of traffic that goes through the community of Merritt, you look at the significance accidents, highway accidents that we’ve seen. You look at the stress put on first responders. The community has been protesting. We have met with the Minister. We have sent communication to the Minster and the Premier, and still, we still these happening over and over again,” Tegart said.
“It is a sad situation when that is what healthcare looks like in British Columbia.”
Tegart says she doesn’t begrudge Merritt – and its Mayor Michael Goetz – for floating an idea of trying to withhold tax revenue to make up for the lack of service this year.
“Interior Health’s job is to provide service to communities, to make sure that our facilities our staffed and if they can’t do that job, then government needs to do something different,” Tegart said.
“Healthcare is in crisis in British Columbia, particularly in rural areas. I see no action from government. I see communities desperate to get the attention of government.”
Interior Health – for its part – told Radio NL it is working on several recruitment strategies in Merritt.
It says two newly hired nurses have already started working in the community as of a couple of weeks ago, with another set to arrive sometime this month.
“We know these situations are frustrating and challenging for everyone, and the service interruptions are concerning for all of us,” Kathy Doull, Executive Director of Clinical Operations for Interior Health West, said.
“The decision to divert services is never taken lightly, and closing the ER is always a last resort.”
