Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons is speaking out on another health care issue.
Simons told Coast Reporter he’s worried about a situation brought to his attention by a local doctor. One of the doctor’s patients is recovering from a stroke and having trouble getting specialized therapy treatments.
Simons said he and the doctor have also taken their concerns to Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
The problem seems to be one of staffing and resources. According to Simons, VCH has hired only two physiotherapists for Sechelt Hospital out of the 3.8 full-time equivalent positions budgeted for. And there is only one occupational therapist available and no speech/language therapists on the Sunshine Coast.
“This has been an ongoing problem, and it may just be an issue with difficulty in recruitment,” Simons said.
He also said it means stroke patients are not getting the same quality of care they could have elsewhere, where they have better access to a multidisciplinary team. “This is a recent concern about a [specific] patient, but it speaks to a larger issue about the lack of adequate resources,” he said. “I’d like to see the appropriate contingent of medical professionals available for the community.”
Simons said other constituents have come forward with similar concerns over the past couple of years.
VCH said it’s actively recruiting to fill vacancies, but faces challenges caused by a nation-wide shortage of people with the right qualifications.
