Thank you for your very timely article on ‘Doctor Shortage a “Looming Crisis” (Star, April 12, 2013). In the Slocan Valley, both Dr. Barbour and Dr. Piver work out of the clinic at Slocan Park. As a result of their looming departure from active general practice, with one retiring and one moving, there will be another 700-plus individuals to add to the list of people already seeking help. And the people from the valley, many of whom are quite elderly, will be driving to either Nelson or Castlegar, searching for that help, while emergency departments at the hospitals will be completely overwhelmed. It is a crisis.
Eric Nygren
Slocan Park