Two doctors have issued separate calls asking for Island Health91裸聊视频檚 chief medical officer to resign in the wake of continued issues plaguing the delivery of health care on northern Vancouver Island
Port Hardy91裸聊视频檚 Dr. Alex Nataros posted on his official Twitter account that due to 91裸聊视频減hysician harrassment and ongoing dereliction of duty to meet basic job responsibility to provide medical leadership91裸聊视频� he is calling for 91裸聊视频渢he resignation of Dr. Ben Williams.91裸聊视频�
Meanwhile, Port McNeill physician Dr. Prean Armogam, who has been living and working in the North Island for 17 years, echoed that sentiment.
91裸聊视频淭he brokeness [of the North Island health-care system] needs to stop,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淭his has been going on for a long time, and there is no confidence in the competence of the senior executive to actually administer change on a successful level. They haven91裸聊视频檛 been helpful, they haven91裸聊视频檛 been listening, and patients have been suffering.91裸聊视频�
Health care facilities in Port Hardy, Port McNeill, and nearby Alert Bay have been struggling with repeated staffing shortages, leading to multiple temporary closures and service disruptions.
Armogam said Island Health91裸聊视频檚 response has ultimately been a 91裸聊视频渉ot potato approach - it91裸聊视频檚 poorly thought out, it91裸聊视频檚 not planned, and it puts patients at risk.91裸聊视频�
He said he91裸聊视频檚 been dealing with Island Health91裸聊视频檚 poor treatment of physicians since 2020, when he went public with concerns, and was subsequently forced into stepping down from his position as medical director for the Regional District of Mount Waddington.
91裸聊视频淚t was because I stood up for myself about issues regarding privilege and race, and I was labelled as a troublemaker 91裸聊视频� The moment you point out deficiencies you get labelled as disruptive or not following the rules, but at the same time, there91裸聊视频檚 been a complete lack of accountability from [Island Health].
91裸聊视频淚n more recent times, [Island Health] has not been present, they91裸聊视频檙e not listening, and with all the hospital closures and diversions, they91裸聊视频檝e been lacking in support for Port Hardy doctors.91裸聊视频�
Nataros said strained relationships are chasing away current staff and getting in the way of recruiting. He pointed to how he waited for weeks to hear from Williams about a promised action plan to deal with physician concerns. Instead, when Williams finally contacted him, it was with an unexpected cold call about how Nataros was using his dog as a therapy dog, against Island Health policy.
Black Press Media also viewed emails from a third local doctor, working on an expired contract and intending to turn over his practice to someone else, only to be frustrated by lack of Island Health feedback and guidance on how to do that.
91裸聊视频淲hat is my new contract status at present? What do I have for job security from you? What is the recruitment status of new physicians so that I may transition my patients to new physicians?91裸聊视频� the physician wonders.
Island Health91裸聊视频檚 President and CEO Kathy MacNeil said in a statement that Williams has her complete and continued confidence.
91裸聊视频淎s CEO, I expect Dr. Williams 91裸聊视频� as the Chief Medical Officer for Island Health 91裸聊视频� to fully investigate when concerns arise about the quality of care delivered by a member of the medical staff,91裸聊视频� she wrote. 91裸聊视频淚sland Health in general, and Dr. Williams in particular, has a responsibility under the medical staff bylaws to ensure patient safety and to fully investigate when concerns arise.
91裸聊视频�(Physicians) are well aware of the mechanisms available to them to raise their concerns, including through their Medical Staff Association.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淎t Island Health, our focus remains on stabilizing health-care services in the North Island through the significant commitment recently announced by the Ministry of Health, to build a foundation for the future. We are committed to do this working collaboratively with all of our partners 91裸聊视频� including the local physician community.
91裸聊视频淭his is what North Island patients and communities, and our care teams, need and deserve.91裸聊视频�
editor@northislandgazette.com
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