New doctor for Enderby

Photo: Google Street View

Enderby residents will be getting some medical relief when a new doctor opens shop next week.

The community north of Vernon on Highway 97A has been struggling to attract doctors for the past several years, but on Monday Dr. Michael Abayomi will start seeing patients at the Enderby Community Health Centre.

Currently, there is only one physician in the town of just over 3,000 people.

Coun. Brian Schreiner said at one point the community had five doctors, but four have left for various reasons.

“We've been dealing with this over the past five or six years,” said Schreiner, who was part of the recruitment process along with Interior Health officials.

Schreiner said it was of great benefit to be part of the recruiting.

“We were able to explain our community and the amenities it has to offer,” said Schreiner. “We're really pleased IH let us be involved in the process.”

Schreiner said representatives of the Splatsin First Nation, which borders Enderby, were also part of the hiring process.

Enderby has seen several doctors come and go as part of an IH program where foreign doctors must practice in rural communities for three years before they can move to larger centres.

However, Schreiner said he is optimistic things will be different this time as the new physician is from a rural community and will hopefully want to practice in a smaller community beyond the three-year commitment.

“We want to make sure he feels welcome,” said Schreiner.

But the arrival of Abayomi is just part of the good news for Enderby residents.

“We have another doctor coming in February as well,” said Schreiner, adding a nurse practitioner has been hired to replace the current nurse practitioner who is leaving town.

“Interior Health is pleased that, in collaboration with our community partners, and through the government’s Practice Ready Assessment BC (PRA-BC) program, we will be welcoming a full-time physician to join our team at the Enderby Community Health Centre next week,” said Dr. Curtis Bell, executive director, primary and residential care.

“The PRA-BC program is funded by the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC, who are working together to strengthen health care in rural communities like Enderby. This program is focused on bringing stable, high quality care to residents in rural BC, and addressing the physician retention and recruitment challenges facing some of our smaller communities.”