The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako board voted on Aug. 14 to request a meeting with Northern Health鈥檚 leadership to address ongoing concerns about health service delivery in rural communities.
Chair Mark Parker said the intent is to focus on solutions. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not looking to just complain鈥攚e want to work with them to improve the system for our residents,鈥� he told the board.
Directors discussed a range of challenges, including emergency department closures, shortages of medical staff, reduced hours at some health facilities, and the need for residents to travel long distances for specialized care. Several directors agreed these problems have been ongoing for years and that recent changes in services have created new gaps.
The board agreed to send a formal letter inviting Northern Health鈥檚 senior executives to attend a regional meeting. Directors also proposed including representatives from the provincial Ministry of Health to ensure broader coordination and to press for commitments that could address systemic issues.
Some members suggested the meeting should highlight successful local initiatives that could be expanded elsewhere, while others said it was important to bring forward detailed examples from each community to illustrate the scale of the problem.
Parker said the meeting would be most effective if it led to concrete steps and clear timelines for improvement. 鈥淲e need a conversation that ends with actions, not just words,鈥� he said.
