Make health care for your constituents a priority

I am shocked to read in this paper that some of the most vulnerable individuals amongst us have lost their transportation to Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital for dialysis appointments. I am equally shocked by the lack of outrage and immediate action by our local politicians.

Mayor and council, I have immense respect for some of your priorities: building affordable housing, environmental protections, wildfire mitigation and infrastructure improvements. However, Nelson is in a crisis of shortage of family doctors and a crisis of inadequate supports for mental health and addictions. How can we build infrastructure on such a weak foundation? Nelson barely has a walk-in clinic anymore, and our ER has become the de facto walk-in clinic, putting immense strain on their operations.

I recently had the experience of calling the walk-in clinic at the mall looking to bring my sick child in with a 103-degree fever and a scary cough. I was told that they “could fit him in in a month.”

Politicians, how would you feel if that was your sick child you were attempting to access care for through a walk-in clinic because they don’t have a GP? How would you feel if it was your elderly relative who couldn’t afford to get to Trail for their dialysis? How would you feel if it was your child living in distress on the streets because they don’t have access to adequate mental health and addictions supports?

Time to confront this urgent reality and walk in the shoes of your constituents for the day.

Mayor Morrison, council and MLA Brittny Anderson, I implore you, make access to proper health care for all of your constituents your A1 priority. There’s nothing on your agenda as urgent. Imagine the legacy you would leave.

Mya Humphreys

Slocan Valley

READ MORE: Shuttle bus from Nelson to Trail hospital for dialysis patients discontinued