February 25, 2014 - 10:29 AM
LOGAN LAKE, B.C. - Residents of a rural British Columbia town believe the local health authority's search for a replacement physician amounts to a prescription for mismanagement.
Logan Lake residents crowded into a Monday night meeting for an update about recruitment of a doctor to replace the community's sole general practitioner, who is leaving this week.
One man says the Interior Health Authority has known of the impending departure for months, but hasn't yet hired any part-time doctors to fill the gap until a permanent replacement is found.
Another resident says the lack of action is a slap in the face to the mining community of just over 2,000, noting Logan Lake had three doctors when he moved to the area 11-years ago.
Departure of the current doctor means Logan Lake's health centre emergency department will be closed and area residents will have to drive 45-minutes to Kamloops or Merritt for medical appointments.
Interior Health spokeswoman Bernadine Easson told the meeting that the search for a new physician is underway and the hard work will continue until one is found.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014