Merritt mayor optimistic for end to persistent ER closures with new health minister in place

The Mayor of Merritt is optimistic there will be improvements in healthcare in his community, after a meeting with new B.C. health minister Josie Osborne.

“I’ve got some good feelings with the new minister,” Mike Goetz told CFJC Today. “We’ve had a conversation and there will be more, and I’m looking forward to a plan.”

“Even if its a plan that is going to take a little bit of doing and we still have some closures, but at least if we have a plan that we know that we’re working towards, I think that’s the best thing for all of us.”

Goetz’s comments come as the Emergency Room at the Nicola Valley Hospital is unavailable for the 21st time this year. The ER was closed at 7:00 a.m. this morning, and its expected to stay closed until 8:00 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 24) morning.

He is also hoping that Osborne’s “fresh set of eyes” will lead to changes in communities like Merritt, where there have been a string of persistent ER closures over the past two years.

“Because there was nothing happening with the old regime [under Adrian Dix],” Goetz said.

“I let [Osborne] know as a mayor and the other mayors that we’re willing to work with her and come up with a plan to keep our community hospitals open, and how can all work together and help you help us.”

Goetz is part of the ‘Mayors ER group,’ which is hoping to push for better healthcare coverage in rural communities the way the TransLink Mayors’ Council advocates for transit in the Lower Mainland.

“I talked to the Minister about this and she’s looking forward to meeting with us so we can start to all work together,” Goetz said. “Each community is a little different and what Mayor [Laurie] Hopfl is experiencing in Lillooet and Mayor [Merlin] Blackwell is experiencing in Clearwater may not be the exact same thing we’re experiencing in Merritt.”

“I think this is all we’ve been asking for is the fact that if we can possibly all get together and put our cards on the table to find out where the shortages are, and what can we do to fix that.”