Local Private Clinic Helps Public System: Nelson Mayor

February 17, 2012

The mayor of Nelson says he fully supports the Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic. It is in danger of shutting down if more doctors can't be found to own and run it.

John Dooley says there's no doubt the facility in the Chakho Mika Mall takes a lot of pressure off the public system, especially the ER. But he adds there's a limit to what authorities can do for a private enterprise that is trying to attract more doctor partners. He says perhaps Interior Health can pressure the "powers-that-be" to relax regulations in tems of certifying foreign doctors.

The clinic estimates they've helped about 4,000 new patients and attended to 20,000 visits each year in the 13 years they've been open as a 7-day-a-week, walk-in site. They figure that has helped save the provincial health budget $ 3.5 million.

The owners say they're prepared to donate the business at the cost of its contents to a new physician ownership group who are prepared to keep it going.

The current owner, Dr John Dale is retiring due to ill health.