MLA Rice releases answers to frequent Health care related questions in Prince Rupert

With the temperature of the conversation on health care rising in Prince Rupert last week with each day of announced Emergency Room Closures, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice shifted her usual weekend focus of celebrating recent government initiatives, to explore an number of Health Care themes.

The MLA who is also the Eby Government's Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health provided for a late Friday afternoon information flow of answers to the Questions she believes have been of the most concern on health care.

The FAQ Fact sheet, provides for frequent mentions of what the provincial government has done on the issue of health care, outlined incentive programs in place to recruit local physicians, as well as to how the province approaches the issue of departing doctors and seeking replacements.

The Friday newsletter themes included a range of links to government statements and continued on to explore perceptions on health care on the North Coast and concerns of residents that the Prince Rupert facility is to see reductions as the new Mills Memorial facility prepares to open.  

The MLA's approach towards reassurance for the community, also includes what has become the latest default reply for Health authorities and political officials when it comes to service in Prince Rupert, that of the Global health Human Resources crises. 

"Absolutely not. PRRH is a regional hospital supporting northwest communities, including two other hospitals in Haida Gwaii. Services do change with what services are available at our local hospital at different times. 

This is especially true right now during the global health human resource crises. We will always have a hospital in Prince Rupert. 

In fact, we are investing, not divesting, in the hospital and what health care services will be available in the future."

The Friday update (which you can read in full here) includes the MLA's constituency office phone number and Ms Rice's email address for those wishing to carry on the discussion.

"As always if you have any questions on provincial issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you. 

My office can be reached at  250-624-7734 or Jennifer.Rice.MLA@leg.bc.ca. "

Today has delivered word of yet another Emergency Room Closure from overnight Sunday and one that will extend until 4PM this afternoon. 

That  makes for the longest one day stretch of the five previous ER closures of the Closed to the public advisories for Prince Rupert and something most in the community should rightly consider unacceptable. 

Ms. Rice and her staff can probably anticipate a heavy volume of calls through the day.

A look back at the past week of health related themes is available here.