Review Staff
A new doctor might soon be in at the
Keremeos Diagnostic and Treatment
Centre.
Interior Health officials are releasing
few details but have confirmed they are in
advanced talks with at least one family doctor
that would like to practice in Keremeos.
“There is a physician who has verbally
indicated the desire to start practicing in the
community of Keremeos. Arrangements to
formalize an agreement are being made.
When we have further information, we will
make sure to share it with the community,”
Dr. Curtis Bell, Interior Health’s executive
medical director of community and
residential services stated in an email to the
Review Tuesday afternoon.
It is unknown when a formal agreement
between the doctor and Interior Health
might be agreed upon or when the doctor
would start.
The news that a new full-time doctor
might be on the horizon should come as a
relief for many as the community has been
struggling with only three doctors at the
centre since the start of 2015.
After many years of service Dr. Gerald
Partridge retired at the end of 2014.
Adding to the challenge was the
announcement this spring that Dr. Michael
Biggs, another longterm doctor, would follow
suit and retire in September.
Interior Health has been in talks with the
municipality and other stakeholders about
ways to improve chances of attracting new
physicians.
As part of ongoing initiatives, Keremeos
Dr. Johan Boshoff recently attended a doctor
recruitment fair in Penticton earlier this
summer.