What a difference a year makes.
At this time last year we had one doctor in the community and the impact on available medical services was severe.
Fast forward to 2013 and Fort St. James celebrated earlier this year with the arrival of three new doctors and a nurse practitioner, to work alongside Dr. Stent.
The clinic hours are now 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The hospital has a doctor on call 24 hours per day, seven days of the week, 365 days of the year.
Residents are thankful for the arrival of additional doctors and the nurse practitioner but, many people are still asking: ”If we have four doctors and a nurse practitioner, how come I still can't get an appointment when I want it?”
Currently three doctors are working at the medical clinic, seeing up to 75 patients per day depending on the health issues of individuals.
In addition the nurse practitioner sees 22 patients per day at the Nak’azdli Health Centre.
You may have noticed at times there are only two doctors in the clinic.
This is due to annual vacation and outreach clinics at Binche and Tl’azt’en Health Centres.
The fourth doctor is on call at both the hospital and medical clinic.
Every Wednesday is refill day at the medical clinic and appointments are prioritized to those patients needing refills on their prescription(s).
If you have been prescribed any type of long term medication, it is highly recommended you call for a refill appointment at least two weeks before your medication runs out. The Pharmacy can provide emergency refills, in most cases, on a short term basis until the patient can book an appointment into the refill clinic.
August Holiday Schedule for Physicians
Dr. Meyer, Dr. Marile van Zyl and Dr. Pieter van Zyl will be away from August 12-31. Dr. Paul Stent; Nurse Practitioner, Celia Evanson; and Dr. Dan Cutfeet will be working during that time.