Some Gabriolans cool to proposed medical clinic

This is an article as a results of an interview by the Nanaimo Daily News a week after we started the blog - what we found interesting was the comments below the article once it appeared online.

Nanaimo Daily News

Dustin Walker

Published: Wednesday, December 08, 2010

A Gabriola Island couple say they launched a blog questioning the need for a proposed $1-million urgent care clinic in the hopes it sparks more discussion about the viability of such a project. Shena Meadowcroft and her partner Tony Gibson went online with proposedgabriolaclinic.blogspot.com last weekend, which aims to provide a forum for "full and accurate disclosure" of information surrounding the clinic.

Gabriola Island residents have been working for about three years to bring a new, 4,300-square-foot clinic with an emergency room to the community. The Gabriola Health Care Society said the centre would enhance emergency care and help attract and keep doctors, meaning fewer trips to Nanaimo for minor medical reasons and reduced strain on the city's emergency room. So far, $715,000 has been raised. The society expects to break ground this spring.

But Meadowcroft said there are many people on Gabriola Island who have questions surrounding the financial viability of the clinic, the re-zoning of land to accommodate it and whether it's even needed at all. She said about 100 pamphlets promoting the blog have been distributed across the community. "It's about whether as a community we can actually support this, it's about whether as a community we actually need this," said Meadowcroft, who wouldn't state directly whether or not she supported the clinic.
"My goal is to get the truth out there so people can make informed decisions." Meadowcroft thinks more research needs to be done on Gabriola's health care requirements and whether it would make more sense to invest in the Island's existing medical services instead.

Brenda Fowler, president of the Gabriola Health Care Foundation, said she's heard little criticism about the proposed clinic. She said that the current clinic, located in rented space, was only meant to be a temporary.
"The whole strategy behind owning our own building is so we can control the rent so we can attract the doctor," she said, adding the need for the clinic has been well researched and a cost-analysis has been done.
"We will be able to create a work environment that is supportive, that has strong links with VIHA and young doctors will want to come and work here." She pointed out that one in four Gabriola Island residents contributed funds to build the clinic. "We have full confidence in the support that we have," she said.

© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2010

COMMENTS ON THIS STORY

rickstir

Wed, Dec 8, 10 at 10:32 PM

we have a facility now. No upkeep etc. This is just going to let Dr Bob rezone his property!!

walter

Thu, Dec 9, 10 at 06:31 PM

no one has said anything about ongoing facility costs. Long term leasing does have its advantages. imagine what $750,000 could mean for equipping a facility already built.

ALLAN

Fri, Dec 10, 10 at 11:39 AM

Actually, a large part of the community is mystified. Although the clinics on Gabe have always been more than adequate, a vocal fringe group has always agitated for a community operated clinic. Within this group there has always been a strong tendency to confuse and promote a gold-plated facility as the key to solving mostly imaginary healthcare problems. (While the concept of consorting with a community 'society' and maybe the VIHA may not bother some physicians others may find it less appealing.) What ultimately attracts physicians is funding--how they're paid for different aspects of medical practise (presently the fee schedule favors Gabriola)--and lifestyle considerations.