(file photo/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

No Volume Increases

Clinic closure not directly impacting VJH emergency department: Interior Health

Feb 5, 2024 | 2:00 PM

The lack of walk-in clinics has not put any significant pressure on patient volumes at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

That’s according to Diane Shendruk, vice-president of clinical operation for Interior Health, who said people have been able to seek treatment of minor ailments and injuries elsewhere in the community.

“Our [Urgent and] Primary Care Centre has increased and they’re seeing, on a daily basis, about 14 people additional,” Shendruk told Vernon Matters following the announcement of the primary care network investment Friday, Feb. 2.

“Our volumes, to emergency departments, we have not to date seen a significant increase.”

Shendruk said VJH staff saw additional pressure due to typical seasonal patient increases and to the “acuity and complexity” of people accessing care in January, but noted those were not pressures associated with additional volume.

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The city’s last walk-in clinic at the Sterling Centre closed in November 2023.

Speaking to the media following the announcement Friday, Health Minister Adrian Dix stated there have been increases in demand on the health care system over the past three years across Canada. He noted the same impact is seen in Vernon and the North Okanagan, and claimed the investment in the primary care network would help fill gaps.

“These were extraordinary investments around the primary care network that responds specifically to the community because they’ve been directed, designed by the community and respond to their needs,” Dix stated.

“An additional 75 FTEs (full time equivalent) over the next four years, that means 75 full time staff positions that will be shared by more than 75 people, doctors and nurse practitioners. That’s the way to respond with the community.”

Dix noted another Urgent and Primary Care Centre may be required in Vernon to fulfill health care needs, stating the province was “working on that,” but did not provide any further information on those plans.