Significant healthcare fears turned to cheers in Ucluelet last week as Island Health confirmed it would be stepping in to keep the communityB次元官网网址檚 medical clinic open.
In a May 25 announcement, Island Health announced it had reached an agreement with three area doctors as well as the landlord of the building to support the primary care practiceB次元官网网址檚 operations for up to 18 months.
B次元官网网址淚t just gives us a big sigh of relief and we can move onto the next subject,B次元官网网址� Ucluelet Mayor Mayco Noel told the Westerly B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very appreciative and IB次元官网网址檓 happy that theyB次元官网网址檝e changed their direction in the last month and ensured that thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be no closure of the clinic. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to maintain its operation.B次元官网网址�
The clinicB次元官网网址檚 lease-holder Dr. Carrie Marshall and Ucluelet mayor Mayco Noel to explain that financial assistance was needed to keep the facilityB次元官网网址檚 doors open.
Noel told the Westerly B次元官网网址 on Sunday that an B次元官网网址渆xhaustingB次元官网网址� amount of steps were taken to reach last weekB次元官网网址檚 announcement as Island Health wavered on how much assistance it was willing to provide.
B次元官网网址淭here were so many steps between my staff and myself and Dr. Marshall, begging and pleading and talking and trying to find different avenues to who is going to take over this clinic,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淯p until the last final hour, Island Health had no interest in participating as the primary operator, so it was a nailbiter for me on a personal level, but there was no way that I was going to see a clinic shut down during my watch.B次元官网网址�
Under the new agreement, the clinic will be able to offer in-person services on Mondays and Wednesdays with virtual physician services available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, according to the announcement.
B次元官网网址淚sland Health will contribute to the overhead costs of the leased space; including utilities, janitorial services and office and medical supplies,B次元官网网址� it states, adding that physicians will have access to Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 group purchasing abilities for medical and office supplies.
B次元官网网址淚n the weeks and months ahead, Island Health, the Long Beach Chapter of the Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice, and local Indigenous communities and patient partners will work collaboratively to develop a service plan for the Ministry of Health to establish a Primary Care Network for the region.B次元官网网址�
The district put out its own announcement on May 28 explaining council and staff had been working B次元官网网址渂ehind the scenes to find viable solutions to avoid the clinics closure.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎dvocating for our communities to have access to readily available medical care close to home is of utmost importance,B次元官网网址� Noel said through the announcement. B次元官网网址淲e are very pleased that an agreement has been reached which results in the continuity of clinic operations. The entire community, as well as myself and Council would like to thank Island Health and the physician group for their hard work in resolving a short-term solution. We look forward to continuing this work to solidify a long-term solution towards a primary care network.B次元官网网址�
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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