More than 800 people in Ashcroft, B.C. have been without access to a family doctor.
So a new initiative is — pioneered by the Ashcroft Wellness and Health Action Coalition, doctors at the Lillooet Hospital and Interior Health — is shuttling them 100 kilometres away to Lillooet where they can be seen by a resident in the final stages of their coursework under the B.C. Practice Ready Assessment program.
David Durksen, vice-chair of the Ashcroft Wellness and Health Action Coalition, says two of these doctors-in-training will relocate to Ashcroft in February.
“It’s been a lot of work, but this is something that’s never been done before, and we’re quite excited to be piloting this and seeing how we can make it work,” Durksen said.
He admits there are people who believe it’s a “terrible” idea and that he would love to find a solution that didn’t involve patients riding the bus for an hour and 15 minutes each way. But in the meantime, patients can access the service for $10.
Full details and appointment information here.
H/T CBC News
