by Wendy Coomber
Ashcroft Council has accepted an invitation from Interior Health’s CEO Dr. Robert Halpenny and board chair Erwin Malzer to meet with them at the Union of BC Municipalities annual convention in Vancouver later this month.
Besides the regular business goes on at the convention, municipal representatives have the opportunity to meet with politicians and representatives of many other quasi-political bodies as well. Interior Health’s invitation was extended to all municipal and regional district politicians in the IH area.
Council had to submit a list of topics to be discussed and a list of councillors who would be attending the Sept. 21 30-minute meeting.
Doctor recruitment, suggested Coun. Al Mertens at an Aug. 24 committee meeting, “and what happens if that becomes not likely in the near future.”
Emergency hours, said Coun. Barbara Roden. “A lot of people are convinced that cutbacks in the hours are a precursor to everything being closed,” she said.
“At WHAC’s meeting last month there was no nurse at the nursing station,” said Mayor Jack Jeyes. “It was disappointing. In my opinion, if we’re looking at improving nursing services, now’s the time to do it before the new doctors arrive.”
“Nurse practitioners?” suggested Roden.
“E-medicine?” contributed Coun. Doreen Lambert.
“I’d like to know how unavailability of doctors will affect our lab and imaging departments,” added Coun. Mertens.