Message from the health centre

 Tahsis

HI, I have been distressed to hear that there have been a couple of incidences in the last 6 weeks when nurses have ben treated badly at the Tahsis Health Center. These have occurred when patients have demanded to see physicians immediately for non-urgent conditions.

They have indicated that a 2-week wait nor a non-emergency is unacceptable to them. They have also been unwilling to have the nurse examine them to determine if they can assess and then consult with the physician. The behaviour has included coming inches from the nurse’s face and shouting at the nurses about a two-week wait to see the physician being unacceptable.

I also need residents of Tahsis to know that a two-week wait in almost all other communities in BC to see a primary care practitioner in person is exceptional service. Even in other small communities, the waits are often twice as long.

Emergencies are always seen quickly. What is not an emergency- it is not an itchy rash, it is not a Vitamin B12 shot. It is not a refill of your routine prescriptions or you having lost your medication.

Tahsis has been very fortunate to have no nursing staff shortage in the last year. While other communities have had to close emergency rooms and clinics. In part, this is due to the efforts of the town to be respectful to the nurses and physicians that work at the clinic. It makes staff want to work there. I would hate to see a situation where this changes because of those who feel their issues take priority over everyone else. There are limited numbers of staff and they are doing the best to provide appropriate care.

Appropriate care does not always mean you will be seen the same day for everything. It does mean we make sure those that are most urgent are seen promptly and everyone else is seen as soon as possible. In order to achieve this the nurse must be able to take a history and exam the patient.

I trust that these behaviours will stop and not spoil the situation for health care in Tahsis. I need the community to assist in this. Many of you know who behaves or has behaved this way in the recent past. Community pressure to stop this behaviour is the most effective way of making sure we keep the services we have.

I ask you for your support in this. I thank you and wish a safe and happy Holiday.

Respectfully

Enid O’Hara

Manager Rural Services

Strathcona Corridor and Mount Waddington.

5 December 2022.