An update from Interior Health (IH) to Williams Lake city council provided some positive news as IH announced the opening of a new primary care network hub.
Diane Shendruk, vice president, clinical operation, IH north, shared the news a primary care network hub has begun some operations, with an official opening still to come in May.
Shendruk said she was being “a bit premature” in announcing the hub opening at the regular council meeting on April 30. She shared the news in response to questions brought forward by Mayor Surinderpal Rathor which he received from the public via social media.
“The doors have opened as of yesterday,” said Shendruk, noting the centre will provide a team-based care approach with access to mental health and substance use clinicians, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers, occupational and respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners and a general practitioner. Virtual services will also be available through Telehealth.
The question Rathor asked was where is a walk-in clinic for the community, which actually refers to what the health authority calls an urgent and primary care clinic, which would provide non-emergency primary care to patients. While Shendruk said they are still seeking some approvals for the urgent and primary care clinic, this is also in process.
The primary care hub is being operated out of the Yorston Medical Building at 143 Fourth Avenue South.
“Lovely to hear it, that is happy news,” said Rathor, adding a request for continued improvement to the communication of IH with council and the community.
The news of the primary hub opening comes on the heels of an announcement late in the day on April 29, of a temporary service interruption for the Cariboo Memorial Hospital emergency room.
READ MORE: Cariboo Memorial Hospital ER sees second closure overnight
The closure announcement came with little to no notice for the community, and Shendruk told council the closure came as a result of a sick call leading to insufficient nursing coverage.
Councillor Angie Delainey asked what the communication protocol was for these situations and said the city received the notice at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the closure, which was to take effect at 6:30 p.m.
“I believe good communication done well can mitigate a lot of fear and anger in our communities,” she said, asking if IH is considering using push notifications.
Shendruk said along with public releases, she herself makes personal phone calls, including to the mayor, but said the health authority is looking at push notifications.
The closure was the second one in three months for the facility, which is where people from across the Chilcotin would normally travel to access emergency medical care.
Rathor also put forward a question from the community regarding why health care staff let go as a result of their vaccine status during the pandemic were not being hired back, which received a response from Shendruk as well.
She said the medical order is still in place for health authorities and health care providers must still have proof of vaccination to be hired as a result.
READ MORE: New urgent and primary care clinic on schedule for Williams Lake
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