Barriere mayor Ward Stamer is not happy with the short notice being given by Interior Health (IH) regarding the recent emergency room closures at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater and elsewhere in the Thompson-Cariboo region.
"I was sitting at the hospital in Clearwater for over four hours with a swollen hand following an X-ray there on Friday, July 12," Stamer said. "I came with a requisition from our doctor at the clinic in Barriere because it wasn't until he said I needed an X-ray that I was told our machine in Barriere wasn't working and I'd have to go up to Clearwater to be X-rayed.
"I understand how frustrated people can be when sick or in pain. I saw firsthand how busy and short-staffed they are at Dr. Helmcken, with a nurse on loan from Kelowna as well just to keep things open during that time. It does seem like there is so much paperwork on top of everything else holding up the process."
Stamer feels that the shortages may be inevitable, but that there should be a better plan as to when closures take place, how the public and local officials are notified, and especially how to prepare first responders in the event there is an unexpected crash or medical emergency during a time when there is no ER access and the possibility of limited transport because of an ambulance having been called to another area.
"[Clearwater mayor Merlin] Blackwell and I discussed our concerns with Doug Garland [of BC Emergency Health Services] about our ambulances here in the North Thompson. We were able to convince him to allow us to keep both ambulances, including a 'Juliet' vehicle, in Barriere, knowing if things aren't that busy in the valley that vehicle is able to travel elsewhere to be used until we need it back.
"With these multiple ER closures happening we don't have two full-time emergency vehicles in Clearwater, and that will mean a scramble if there is an emergency transport needed when there is only a part-time vehicle. This is serious."
Stamer insists this is a "mind-boggling" situation and there is a need to "simplify the processes." He would like to see a program even as early as high school similar to those models used in the trades to encourage young people to enter into nursing, technician and other medical support positions where there are currently shortages.
"They knew these closures would have to happen because they don't have enough agency nurses and locum doctors, so they are drawing from other areas, essentially 'borrowing' nurses. Should we be scheduling closures that at least give more notice, rather than these short notices which impact the public and right now in the middle of tourist season?
"Let's give our first response teams the chance to prepare at least. Realistically it may not look good politically for government, but it's got to be better than having short notice and not having enough back-up to move people in an emergency. Can you imagine the second car being on loan to another area when there's a call for an ambulance with only one available in the valley?"
Stamer is adamant about supporting first response teams in the valley before they become overwhelmed, or find themselves in a situation they have no current resources for, which includes better pay for the hours they are on standby. "We've got to take care of them for them to be able to take care of us."
