Northern Health addresses rumours of Eljen Clinic closure

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The Eljen Healthcare Clinic in Dawson Creek isn’t closing, but some physicians are leaving over the coming months, according to Northern Health.

The health authority posted to Facebook on Friday, April 19th, saying it’s working with the South Peace Division of Family Practice to fill vacancies at the clinic.

“While we know several physicians are planning departures for a variety of reasons, there are also many new physicians joining our community soon,” the post reads.

According to Northern Health, a new family physician began practicing in Dawson Creek in March, alongside a new psychiatrist who began practicing in the community in early April.

The health authority also says a new gynecologist, an Internal Medicine physician, and two more family physicians are set to start practicing in Dawson Creek over the coming weeks and months.

The post comes after rumours circulated online that the Eljen Clinic would be closing due to a lack of staff.

Northern Health says it continues to work with the South Peace Division of Family Practice and the City of Dawson Creek to “find ways that the Eljen Clinic can continue to be a place where Dawson Creek and South Peace residents can get many of their healthcare needs met.”

The South Peace Division of Family Practice is also taking steps to improve residents’ access to healthcare in the area. 

In early March, the group presented its plans and priorities to the Peace River Regional District (PRRD), which included establishing a “primary care network” and calling for more provincial healthcare funding.

It says it will have more updates on initiatives to bring more physicians to the South Peace over the coming weeks.

Energeticcity.ca has contacted both Northern Health and the South Peace Division of Family Care to find out what will happen if the vacancies at the Eljen Clinic aren’t filled.