Whereas the Ministry of Health committed in 2020 that supporting local health care is key to improving life in rural British Columbia in response to resolution 2020NR64 Kaslo; And whereas Emergency Departments in communities across BC have had multiple short notice closures due to staff absences since that reply was issued; And whereas a shortage of physicians and nursing staff has led to residents being unable to register for primary healthcare and become reliant on Emergency Departments for both emergencies and also issues that could not be dealt with earlier; And whereas rural andor noncentralized communities are particularly affected by healthcare shortages due to the distance to another community with healthcare provision and the additional time required to access healthcare can be the difference between and life and death: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to investigate and take immediate action on healthcare shortages in rural andor noncentralized communities, and support Health Authorities to ensure that Emergency Departments across BC have the necessary resources to avoid temporary, shortnotice closures.
