Home »
MLA demands retention incentives for local healthcare workers
Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka (BC United) is slamming the NDP government for its glaring failures in managing healthcare across British Columbia, particularly highlighting severe neglect in the Kootenays amid widespread emergency department closures.
“British Columbians are enduring a healthcare crisis, evidenced by 38 emergency room closures in Interior and Northern Health since July 1 alone,” said Shypitka. “Given the NDP’s inability to address these challenges, it is unacceptable that Cranbrook and Kimberley remain excluded from the Provincial Rural Retention Incentive (PRRI), further worsening the healthcare situation in these communities.”
The BC Nurses Union (BCNU) East Kootenay Region, in collaboration with local colleagues, has been tirelessly petitioning the NDP government to rectify this issue. Despite local outrage, nearly 800 signatures from nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals across Kimberley and Cranbrook have been gathered, yet the government remains unresponsive, Shypitka pointed out.
“Cranbrook is on par with Trail in terms of resources and patient population,” he stated. “The exclusion of Cranbrook from the PRRI is a glaring oversight. East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) in Cranbrook serves a vast rural area, providing crucial medical services. Despite its rural setting, EKRH faces significant recruitment and retention challenges. This omission risks further staff loss and jeopardizes healthcare delivery in the region.”
Shypitka said he recognizes the vital role healthcare workers play in Cranbrook and Kimberley.
“Supporting our health care professionals is non-negotiable,” he said. “The NDP’s inconsistent application of the PRRI, influenced by political lobbying as seen with Trail, is leaving critical areas like Cranbrook and Kimberley to struggle.
“This neglect is causing a detrimental impact on healthcare delivery and the retention of skilled workers in these regions. I will work closely with the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU) and local advocates to ensure their voices are heard and that the Ministry of Health takes our demands seriously.”
Shypitka insists the NDP government extend retention incentives to Cranbrook and Kimberley, recognizing the significant impact this will have on retaining skilled healthcare workers in these regions.
e-KNOW file photo
Submitted
