Williams Lake now has a full-time pediatrician.
It’s about time.
It’s hard to believe that Williams Lake has been without one for more than five years.
Though a pediatrician has visited the lakecity once a month — coming all the way from Prince George — to tend to patients, that is not enough (he will still come to Williams Lake each month because the need is just that great).
We welcome Monica McKay and her family and hope they will enjoy our wonderful, little city and feel at home soon (see story page A15).
She is an independent physician and has an office at the Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre.
A full-time pediatrician would reduce some of the heavy workload experienced by the medical community in Williams Lake, as well as provide often critical and complex care to our youngest community members here — in their hometown.
Though we have a wonderful team of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals here, often a baby or small child needs an extra level of care, and their young age makes them especially vulnerable. Pediatricians are devoted to the care of infants, children, and adolescents. In addition to having a high level of training in diagnosing and managing acute and chronic illnesses in children, they also have extensive knowledge of child development and behaviour.
Having a pediatrician here will definitely be a benefit and welcome addition to our community.