There was no shortage of praise all around as Quesnel opened the doors to it’s new Primary Care Clinic on Front Street late Friday afternoon.
Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes was on hand along with members of Northern Health, the Cariboo Regional District and the City.
The $900,000 project was funded by Northern Health and the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District.
John Massier, the Chair of the Hospital District, says it was an easy sell to the Board to fund the facility.
But he also said that you can’t just have a building you also need people to staff it…
“It wasn’t much more than a year ago when all the members of our community, the Mayor and Council and the Regional District directors, our MLA Oakes, and Northern Health, our local doctors all got together. And they weren’t only supported by that group of people in the recruitment, but many members throughout our community that donated different things to attract people to our community.”
Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson also credited the community for being proactive, being ahead of the curve and taking some risks when it comes to the recruitment and retention of doctors.
13 physicians have now been recruited since June of 2015.
Quesnel’s Primary Health Clinic will feature 8 physicians, 2 Nurse Practitioners and a team that will include mental health and substance use clinicians, pharmacists, dietitians, registered nurses and home support staff.
(Files from George Henderson)