An unsuitable workload has forced physicians at the Ancron Medical Centre, located at 402 Baker Street in Nelson, to close its Saturday and Sunday walk-in services from August 25.
Ancron, a privately owned business which does not operate under Interior Health, was the only facility in the region still accepting unattached patients after Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic closed its walk-in clinic in February 2024.
A statement on Ancron’s website says the current workload at the clinic has made it difficult to provide care to attached family practice patients, while still handling hospital admissions, obstetrics, and intrapartum care.
The Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice has been working for the past year to find a regional solution for patients needing episodic care.
Dr. Dharma McBride, chair of the KBDFP and family physician, says they’ve made significant progress towards an episodic care centre and hope to open a region-wide episodic care clinic before the end of the year.
“What we’re working on is a region-wide episodic care clinic. The term ‘episodic care’ in this context basically means urgent and semi-urgent care for people who don’t have an attached family physician, who don’t have a primary care home that they can go to.”
Dr McBride explained that the board is hoping to set up a combination of virtual and in-person care at the clinic, which would be staffed with family physicians, full-time nurse practitioners, and nurses.
A location for the clinic hasn’t been determined yet, however, Dr McBride said the KBDFP should be able to provide more information to the public in September, adding that unattached patients can still receive care at Ancron until the end of August.
Additionally, the board is in the process of setting up a screening clinic in the region for people who want preventative screening but don’t have a medical provider.
With it being an election year, Dr McBride encourages residents to consider the importance of primary health care when casting their vote and is asking more residents to get involved in trying to find solutions.
“This shouldn’t be on the backs of family doctors to try to figure out. Why are we having to create a clinic, you know? You don’t ask nurses to do this, you don’t ask teachers to open schools for everybody, right? It really needs to have everybody on board.” said Dr McBride.
Although Ancron isn’t operated under Interior Health, when Vista Radio reached out to inquire about the situation, IH stated it sympathizes with the people of Nelson and the Kootenay Boundary, and understands the challenges people face when trying to access primary care services.
“While this is not an Interior Health clinic, we are working with the Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice to actively recruit family doctors to the Kootenay Boundary. The demand for primary care providers remains high across British Columbia and the current challenge is not unique to the Kootenay Boundary.” said Interior Health.
IH says people seeking immediate medical attention should visit the Kootenay Lake Hospital Emergency Department and for routine and emergency prescription renewals, IH directs people to their local pharmacy.
“While this does not replace a family doctor, it is a helpful support network people in B.C. can easily access.”
Additionally, people can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to speak with a health service navigator, access health services, and connect with an 8-1-1 nurse, dietitian, exercise professional, pharmacist, or, if applicable, a physician.
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