When local MLA Rob Botterell spoke to an ASK Salt Spring crowd in early October he hinted at major progress on the health care file.
He said, “We are on the brink of . . . making a very significant change in how primary care is delivered on this island in a way that you will be thrilled about.” It turns out the community should be quite thrilled.
Evidence to support his prediction has been gradually released. The ASK meeting heard about one physician and his family moving to Salt Spring from England to take over a retiring physician’s panel and hopefully expand his patient roster. Information about the Island Community Clinic Society was also shared at that meeting and then elaborated on in a formal press release on Oct. 24. The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation stated then that more than half a million dollars had already been raised for a $3.5-million project to expand the Salt Spring Island Health Centre on Kings Lane to accommodate more family physicians and other health care practitioners. Islands Trust rezoning approval has since been granted. People can donate to the non-profit entity at islandcommunityclinicsociety.com.
Then just last week the Primary Care Network (PCN) of the South Island Division of Family Practice gave an even more thrilling update. Another physician has been recruited, one more is scheduled to arrive next September and “several” more have apparently expressed an interest in practising here. Funding has already been committed by the province through its Primary Care Strategy and growing support of the community health centre (CHC) model. The latest primary care and CHC report, produced by the province and the BC Green Caucus, was released Dec. 19.
Unfortunately, the good news from the PCN was balanced last week by a missive from the Greenwoods Residents Family Council, who advised that Greenwoods Eldercare Society has had a $400,000 budget cut due to the government eliminating funding of overtime and hiring of agency personnel. A fundraising campaign is now underway, with people urged to donate before the Dec. 31 deadline for charitable donations to receive income tax receipts.
Both the success reported by the PCN and the Greenwoods funding challenge show how much hard work is required to effect real change. We are grateful to everyone willing and able to play a role.