Plan for community health clinic gets Vernon council support

May 27, 2024 | 6:00 PM

A new proposal is in the works to increase health care access for Vernon and area residents.

The City of Vernon’s economic development department and Community Futures North Okanagan are backing the idea for a not-for-profit Community Health Clinic (CHC).

The clinic would be funded by the Ministry of Health, but it would managed by an existing community not-for-profit organization, which in this case, would be CFNO.

Economic development manager John Perrott said in a report to council, access to health care is often listed as one of the considerations potential residents look at prior to relocating to a community for employment and/or lifestyle opportunities.

“It is intended that a Vernon CHC will complement existing primary care services within the North Okanagan by creating additional practice opportunities for primary care physicians and allied health care professionals,” Perrott wrote.

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Perrot said work is underway to finalize an application to the Ministry of Health in early June.

“The application process requires the community to complete a comprehensive consultation process with community stakeholder groups and development of a detailed business plan. This work has been completed by a taskforce comprising of CFNO, Social Planning Council, Okanagan College, and City of Vernon economic development representatives,” the city manager said.

The taskforce is collecting letters of support to back-up its application, and Vernon City Council voted unanimously in favour of providing one when the motion was brought forward at the regular meeting Monday, May 27.

Perrott said it’s not known how long the application review process by the Health Ministry could take.

His department and Community Futures North Okanagan have been looking into options to increase health care access for area residents over the last six months.

Speaking with Vernon Matters following Monday’s meeting, Mayor Victor Cumming said the local area does have some health care gaps.

“We’re missing these integrated health care centres and we’re missing family practitioners, physicians, and nurse practitioners,” Cumming said.

“We just need to find a way to provide that for more people. We’re getting 1,000 people a year into the bowl here (Greater Vernon), and we’ve got to be able to deal with that growth.”

Cumming added the aging population puts a strain on the health care system, and with Vernon’s population consisting of roughly 28 per cent seniors, there will be an increased need for improved health care for both the existing and future populations, as well as for the visitors to Vernon and the North Okanagan each year.

The mayor added he does not expect the Community Health Clinic to provide any unique or specialized care, but instead fit in as a needed provider in Vernon.

by Pete McIntyre

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