MLA Rice raises issues on rural health requirements

Health issues in rural communities was topic of concern for the NDP last week in Victoria.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, working in her capacity as critic for Rural and Northern Health sent out a press release las Thursday, outlining some of the concerns of rural communities when it comes to health care funding across the province.

In her media release of April 10th, Ms. Rice highlighted the provincial governments struggles with rural health issues as an indication that they aren' preparing properly for the needs of growing economies.

 “Accessing medical services in the North is already a challenge. Many communities are faced with severe doctor shortages, long wait times for medical specialists, and inadequate mental health programs, yet the B.C. Liberal government has failed to address the uneven playing field when it comes to what’s available in the North versus the Lower Mainland.”

She called attention to ongoing issues in Fort St. John, where a walk in clinic option has had to suspend operations owing to a doctor's shortage in the community.

In addition to current concerns, she outlined how the growing issues of health care in the North could pose problems for the Premier's overall plan of LNG development for Northern British Columbia.

“If the Premier plans to invest in liquefied natural gas to the extent she claims, she had better start investing in growing our communities and ensuring services are available. No one is going to want to work in a community where their family can’t even get a doctor.”

You can review the full scope of the NDP MLA's talking points from this media release from the BC NDP caucus.

For more items of interest from the British Columbia Legislature can be found on our Archive page.