An Update from Quadra Island Health Society August 01/26
Two months ago, Quadra residents turned their pockets inside out to help Quadra Island Health Society ensure continuity of care when Dr Steve Hughes retires. Our first goal was to find a doctor through a recruitment agency; if that failed, we were very clear that we were committed to trying to keep the clinic open other ways.
We did get to interview a couple of UK-based doctors but unfortunately neither worked out; one decided to go elsewhere in BC and the other was looking for aspects of life that Quadra could not cater to.
After working with the Victoria-based recruiter for a few months we mutually agreed to end the relationship. He did not believe he would find a match for us and returned our deposit. (We had examined other recruitment firms but chose not to work with them as they stated in initial conversations that they would not be able to find a doctor for Quadra.)
We are still absolutely committed to making sure there is continuity of care on the island and, since we ended the contract with the recruiter, have been working hard on other paths.
These include:
– Using locums. These are doctors who work in various locations, often to fill in when a doctor is on vacation. We have applications in with the rural locum programme. We are also working with Island Health on a group locum plan similar to the service on Cortes where a team of locums rotate into the clinic;
– Establishing a Nurse Practitioner clinic. To have a stand-alone NP clinic we need at least two nurse practitioners. We have been advertising in BC and Alberta for NPs and have been reaching out to NP colleges. Cumberland has a NP clinic and we have been discussing with it best approaches;
– Finding a GP. This is still a key goal and we are working through word of mouth and advertising. We’re trying to glean techniques from those communities who have been successful in finding doctors (and yes, we have been in touch with Tod Maffin who seems to have a golden touch).
People have commented about the fact that Harbourside Medical Clinic has been successful in attracting a foreign -trained doctor. This is through the government’s International Medical Graduate Program and requires a doctor in place to oversee their work.
We know time is short before Dr Hughes departure but we are working hard to keep that continuity of care. The money donated will be used, with the approval of the Quadra Island Foundation to do just that.