The absence of an obstetrician-gynecologist in Dawson Creek is the latest example of a failing rural healthcare system under the BC NDP government, according to the BC Conservatives.
For more than two months, Dawson Creek has been without an ob-gyn. While low-risk pregnancies are still supported by nurses, midwives, and physicians at the Chickadee Clinic, women with complications must now travel over an hour to Fort St. John to access proper care.
“This isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a risk to the health and safety of women and families in this region. The government has known about this looming crisis and done nothing to prevent it,” said Larry Neufeld, the MLA for Peace River South.
Northern Health has stated it is actively recruiting for the vacant position, but UBC researcher Dr. Jude Kornelsen says the need is “urgent.” According to Dr. Kornelsen, team-based care and investment in infrastructure are critical to ensuring rural communities aren’t repeatedly left behind.
“Expecting one specialist to carry the burden of high-risk care alone is unsustainable,” added Brennan Day, who serves as the Conservative Critic for Rural and Seniors Health. “This story is becoming all too familiar; emergency rooms closed, doctors overworked, and patients forced to travel hours for basic services. It’s a systemic failure, plain and simple.”
A locum program exists to bring temporary specialists into rural communities, but gaps remain. The Conservatives say even efforts to fast-track foreign-trained doctors have not stemmed the exodus of healthcare workers or addressed long-standing retention problems in smaller centres.
“This government continues to pour billions into bureaucracy, while communities like Dawson Creek are left with no access to critical care. British Columbians deserve better than band-aid solutions,” said Neufeld
The Conservatives are calling for immediate reinforcement of locum support programs, investment in rural medical infrastructure, and a serious strategy to retain health professionals in northern and remote communities.