Protest sign from Merritt ER Closure, April 2023 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

MERRITT ER CLOSURES

‘We may not be safe here’; Merritt ER closures a critical situation for mayor

Sep 15, 2023 | 12:01 PM

MERRITT B.C. — Twice in the past eight days, the Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room has been forced to close due to staffing shortages.

It’s a situation that has played out a dozen times this year at the small-town hospital that delivers emergency care as well as the only walk-in clinic services for the community — all while sitting alongside a trio of busy highways. While Mayor Mike Goetz holds regular calls with Interior Health and the Ministry of Health, he admits it is time to try something new.

“We are looking at this as a situation where the city is now in a bit of a critical situation — we may not be safe here. We have decided to work together as a group, formed as a sub-committee of the city to work with IH to get some real answers on retention — doctor retention, nurse retention — and move it forward that way,” said Goetz.

When the hospital was shut down this year, a strong group of locals has gathered to protest and draw attention to the mounting issue.

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“This hospital has been downgraded to a Band-aid station over the past 20 years,” said Georgia Clement.

Clement has been helping organize the protests but doesn’t believe they are garnering the necessary response from government.

“I don’t think that is responsible government. I don’t think they are giving us the health care that we deserve and pay for. Something from government needs to change because right now, in our opinion, it is not working for the people of British Columbia,” remarked Clement.

Similar to the mayor, Clement stated it’s time for protestors to change course, becoming more organized and vocal for change.

“We want the government to know we are not going away. We have decided to form a coalition of concerned citizens here. We are going to now organize rallies, protests, civil disobedience two days after any further closures. The government can count on, if they close this hospital ER, there will be a protest of some magnitude two days later,” added Clement.

Goetz notes Merritt will be unable to compete head-to-head with larger markets for a limited supply of nurses.

“We need a concise and proper retention and hiring plan, where we do not have to bring nurses in or shuffle over the countryside to do this work. They talk about incentivization — I don’t know if we really want to go down that road. That would not fare well for smaller cities like mine. We wouldn’t be able to compete in the bidding process. It’s that simple,” said Goetz.

Both Clement and Goetz spoke to recently hearing from Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix about new nurses coming but are still waiting to see them arrive.