Official Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon of the B.C. Liberals called for changes after a report shows that British Columbians had to wait on average 79 minutes B次元官网网址� or nearly a full professional soccer match B次元官网网址� before seeing a doctor at a walk-in clinic in 2022.
Only residents of Nova Scotia waited longer, at 83 minutes, according to the Walk-in Clinic Wait Time Index produced by tech-company Medimap.
In 2021, British Columbians waited 58 minutes B次元官网网址� which was the longest nationally at the time.
Falcon said the new figures show that the B.C. health care system is getting worse as one-in-five residents remain without a family doctor.
B次元官网网址淵et (Premier) David Eby has signalled more of the same by keeping on Adrian Dix on as the health minister,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣othing they are going to do is going to change that over the next little while.B次元官网网址�
Falcon accused the government of having failed to prepare. A lot of work should have already been done to train more doctors and attract more physicians trained abroad, he added. B次元官网网址淭hey are in the sixth year of government, for GoodnessB次元官网网址� sake,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey only came out with a health human resource plan six months after two terms of government.B次元官网网址�
MedimapB次元官网网址檚 survey of six provinces found Canadians had to wait on average 37 minutes to see a physician at a walk-in clinic.
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Four of the top 10 cities for longest wait times in the country were in B.C.: North Vancouver and Victoria with average waits of 160 minutes and 137 minutes, respectively.
Falcon said a government under his leadership would do a B次元官网网址渨hole suite of thingsB次元官网网址� to improve the system and be measured by their results.
B次元官网网址淲e wouldnB次元官网网址檛 just make announcements,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e would roll up our sleeves and get down to actually making the changes you gotta make to ensure you get different results.B次元官网网址�
Falcon, who spoke to media before MondayB次元官网网址檚 Throne Speech, also used the occasion to talk about the upcoming health-care summit Feb. 7 featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and provincial and territorial leaders.
He said he would be asking the federal government for additional support with innovation and outcomes at the core.
B次元官网网址淩ight now, giving this NDP government more money, when we have seen over six years worsening outcomes in every single measurement of the health care system, is not going to be a good thing.B次元官网网址�
Falcon later also called for a leaner health-care bureaucracy.
Black Press Media has reached out to the provincial government for comment.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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