Distasteful Experience at GHCF Auxilary Office

Seeking ice-cream earlier this summer, my partner and I found ourselves in the offices of the Gabriola Health Care Foundation Auxiliary Office at Folklife Village. We were asked if we were aware of the fundraising for the proposed new clinic. At one point the lady, who we since identified as Nancy Nevison, chair of the Health Care Auxiliary, stated that we only had two doctors on Gabriola. I said I understood there were four. She reiterated that there were two: Dr. Bosman and Dr. Thorne. I asked about Dr. Smith. I was told that he was semi-retired and did not do on-call emergency work. I then asked about Dr. MacKenzie. Nancy Nevison informed us that Dr. MacKenzie didn’t count and anyway his salary was paid by “Verna.” I was completely taken back by this comment and pursued it.

Dr. MacKenzie is my doctor and his practice is in the Gabriola Professional Centre. I assumed she was talking about Verna Gregson, the owner of the building, and Nancy Nevison confirmed this. I said that it was my understanding that all doctors in general practice were paid by the province. She insisted that his salary was paid by Verna Gregson, and inferred that he was operating as a private doctor. I told her that I would not be able to be his patient were he a private doctor as I was not in a financial position to do so, but she kept pushing the point.

Nancy Nevison then went on to insist that Dr. MacKenzie could not do referrals as the other two doctors the island could. Again I corrected her, assuring her that he could and did do referrals. She eventually conceded that maybe if it were an emergency, he could perhaps refer someone to the Nanaimo Hospital. I informed her that I had an appointment for an ultrasound in Nanaimo the following day, which had set up by Dr. MacKenzie’s office. In the six years of living on Gabriola I had been refereed to at least five first class specialist and services by Dr. MacKenzie, and the two previous doctors (Dr. Harding and Dr. MacPherson) in that practice.

I came away with a very bad taste in my mouth. The information that Nancy Nevison insisted on imparting was untrue and her derogatory and inaccurate remarks about Verna Gregson and Dr. MacKenzie insulting and offensive. I have always maintained that if you can’t promote a product or service based on its attributes, but have to resort to bad-mouthing the “competition” you don’t have a product or service.