Tuesday December 5, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
It’s now been over a year since BC Health brought in their new Health Human Resources Strategy (release date was September 29, 2022).
There is an ongoing and problematic shortage of family doctors in BC. Full access to the health-care system depends heavily on h
In 2023, 3,882 family physicians registered for the longitudinal family physician payment model since February 1, of which 2,992 (72%) were existing, which Minister Dix says shows a net-new increase of doctors on the new payment model. That includes 211 doctors who weren’t already in patient-facing care, and 445 new to practice.
“This is a significant and fundamental reform,” said Dix. “We need a dramatic increase in every category,” said Dix in his media availability today.
More nurses, more midwives:
In 2023 the BC College of Nurses and Midwives reported 6,258 new nurse registrants; that includes 578 internationally trained nurses.
Since the beginning of the pandemic the number of registered midwives within the BC College of Nurses and Midwives has increased from 311 to 386, said Dix in his media availability today.
Dix readily notes that further ‘build out’ is required for doctors and other health professionals serving in the area of mental health and addictions.
As of today, there are about 10,000 people in hospital — which is 300 more than last year, which shows the necessity for more base beds and additional workers.
Part of the basis for success includes arranging for more mentoring positions.
Dix said today that the government had promised to “hire more workers, expand more training, and be more supportive”, adding that they have and they are.