A town on the Arrow Lakes is facing a serious doctor shortage.
Dr. Norman Lea is currently one of two full time physicians in Nakusp but the other is leaving at the end of the year.
While there have been five doctors available in the community up until recently, one doctor is set to retire, another is on emergency leave while the fifth has already left town.
“It’s all happening at the same time, unfortunately,” says Dr. Lea.
Dr. Lea says it’s normal to have one physician care for between 800 and 1200 people in a community, not a complete town of 5,000.
The Village of Nakusp is scrambling to bring six new recruits to town because if they don’t find enforcements soon, only life and limb injuries will be taken care of at the local hospital. Other patients will be taken care of by nurses or transferred to other facilities.
Despite the crunch, the mayor remains optimistic they’ll be able to attract new doctors.
“Our doctors have been long term,” says Nakusp Mayor Karen Hamling. “Most come for a year and love it so much, they end up staying for 25 years.”
Patients who can’t be helped in Nakusp will be transferred to nearby New Denver, or possibly as far as Nelson or Trail.
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