This is an open letter to all the family doctors of Prince George. It has been years since the people of this city have been able to find a doctor taking new patients. Everyday I faithfully check the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons website, in the hope that maybe today, a doctor in P.G. will be taking new patients. Once again, the answer is no. I don't understand what is happening in this city. In almost every other city, in our province, doctors are taking new patients. What have the people of P.G. done to deserve being treated like this? The website lists all the family doctors in this city. There are 115 family doctors listed for Prince George! With a population of just under 85,000, each doctor would only have to take 740 patients for everyone to have a doctor. I understand the equation is not that simple, but 115 doctors and not one is taking a new patient.
I find it incredibly ridiculous that our hospital has been renamed "University Hospital of Northern BC", because it is a "teaching hospital", yet you can't buy a doctor here. How is it possible that all those new doctors in our city, open full offices? I have spent hours on the phone calling every doctor in the phone book and I cannot even get put on a waiting list.
Please, doctors, if you are trying to send a message to our government by banding together and refusing new patients, the government is not listening. The only thing you are succeeding at is hurting the people of this city. Most doctors took an oath of some kind when they started out. I am asking, for the people of this city, for the doctors to remember the oath they took. To remember that patients are suppose to come before politics, profit or personal advancement. Please put an end to this and start accepting patients again.
Lisa Miller
Prince George
