In a recent article in the Chronicle entitled “Oliver hospital to be more modern workplace,” a statement is attributed to Health Services Administrator Karl Meadows that there are a large number of general practitioners living in the South Okanagan and that while there is no shortage of doctors in the area, not many are interested in working in the emergency department.
With all due respect to Mr. Meadows, I believe that there certainly is a shortage of doctors in our area. Recently, my GP moved away and I am without a family doctor for the first time in 27 years since moving to Oliver.
I have been unable to find a GP accepting new patients here in Oliver, Osoyoos or in Penticton. In Penticton, there is a new online service that will match you with a family doctor or nurse practitioner if you live or work in Penticton or Summerland. This is a new program so I have no information on how well it is working or if there is consideration for expanding this program to the Oliver and Osoyoos area.
Perhaps if Mr. Meadows knows of local general practitioners that are accepting new patients, he could inform me and the hundreds of other patients that have been “orphaned” when our previous family doctor moved away.
Larry Schwartzenberger
Oliver
