MLA Davies heads to Fort Nelson

FORT NELSON, B.C. – North Peace MLA Dan Davies will be in Fort Nelson on April 22nd and is looking to chat with residents.

Davies heads up about every six weeks to connect with the community on their concerns in the region.

He says that healthcare is probably the number one call he gets at his office in Fort Nelson.

Fort Nelson and area have faced many impacts to health services for many years that have been amplified due to many factors, including the pandemic. The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality hired a healthcare advocate in 2021 to provide council and stakeholders with issues the area is facing and a plan moving forward.

Davies hopes that Northern Health can create a plan that will attract and retain health care professionals in the north.

“We’ve had issues recruiting health professionals up here now for years,” said Davies.

Being someone without a family doctor, Davies is also worried about the impact this will have on people in the region and across the province.

“I am hopeful and optimistic, hesitantly, that things will improve. Of course, as we’re being looked at now as a regional hospital with orthopedic surgeries, general surgeries, and internal specialists, but the thing is that the government and Northern health saying that we’re getting that and delivering on it are two different things,” he said.

Davies still has some openings available on the 22nd, and anyone wanting to chat can call 250-774-9607 to set up an appointment.Northern Health recently responded to residents’ concerns about recent changes to healthcare services in the area. In a release last month, Angela De Smit, the health authority’s Chief Operating Officer, provided an update on the sterile processing department, the CT scan business case, and lab services.