Sun Peaks reviewing sole proposal as search for new medical centre operator continues

At that Tuesday meeting, Sun Peaks CAO Deanna Campbell said a request for proposals for a new health care operator yielded one response.

“The evaluation team has reviewed that proposal and has completed the evaluation process. However, discussions and negotiations with the proponent are still ongoing,” Campbell said.

“Discussions are also ongoing with respect to the current health association exploring how it could support the health centre transition as well as a potential governance role with the health centre which it did have in the past.”

A new Working Group that was tasked with providing recommendations on the healthcare needs in Sun Peaks has recommended that the Health Centre — at 3115 Creekside Way — be established as a family practice clinic.

A report from the Working Group noted that the family practice model can be implemented quickly, allowing for “a smooth transition in a limited timeframe” to meet the community’s urgent needs.

“The model is familiar to practitioners and patients, supporting recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals,” the report stated. [There is] potential for future evolution to a Community Health Centre [which] preserves flexibility and responsiveness to population growth and changing needs.”

According to Campbell’s report to council, Sun Peaks has diverse care needs, which includes providing health care services for residents, seasonal homeowners, visitors as well as migrant workers.

“The range and scope of care and professional expertise required is vast,” Campbell added.

“The municipality saw an opportunity for improvement in understanding rural and resort community needs and putting a plan to gather to fill as many gaps as possible for our community.”

While STEPS has been operating in Sun Peaks since 2023, O’Toole previously told CFJC Today that the clinic had gone from operating five days a week to three days a week.

“We just came to a decision that it was in the best interest of the long-term healthcare success in our community — and for STEPS as well so they can focus their energies elsewhere — that we not renew the lease and take things in a new direction,” O’Toole added.

At minimum, Sun Peaks is looking for a family practice physician (and/or nurse practitioner initially) to provide primary and urgent care services five days a week. The successful proponent will be asked to offer walk-in and urgent care service during daytime hours seven days a week “to maximize accessibility for both residents and visitors.”

There is also an expectation that service offerings will expand to include additional health care practitioners – like mental health, physiotherapy, and allied health services – as the community and practice grows and adapts to emerging needs.

O’Toole said Tuesday that the municipality is working on options to “stabilize and plan for a future” with the Sun Peaks Health Centre.

“I want to encourage citizens to just understand that we’ve got the best interest of community at heart, but you may not see it right now,” O’Toole said. “We will get there.

“Every storm runs out of rain, and these are important times, but we just need to have patience and know that the decision in the end, will be in the best interest of the community.”

by Victor Kaisar

Sun Peaks reviewing sole proposal as search for new medical centre operator continues

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