Bonavista man says more work needed to improve health-care services for the region
2 years ago Charles Marsh died while en route to Clarenville hospital
It's been two years since a Bonavista man died in an ambulance en route to Clarenville, but one advocate says not much has changed to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
On Feb. 19, 2023, 78-year-old Charles Marsh experienced an asthma attack and went to the Bonavista Peninsula Health Centre emergency room only to find it was closed due to staffing shortage.
The following day, he called an ambulance, but died during the over 100-kilometre trip to the hospital Clarenville.
Reg Durdle, a representative with the Bonavista Concerned Citizens Committee, has been advocating for improved health services in the region.
"Nothing has been solved," Durdle told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.
Recruitment and retention of doctors is also still an ongoing problem for the region. Durdle says that could be partly addressed through improving pay.
After protests in 2023, former health minister Tom Osborne introduced a $200,000 signing bonus for doctors to work in Bonavista.
Durdle and his group have been advocating Bonavista doctors to get a boost in pay.
Fixing the problem of lagging health-care services will take a number of groups working together, said Durdle, which includes the provincial government and other organizations.
"Until they come together and sit down and say, 'OK, we're going to fix this,' it's never going to happen," he said.
Durdle says anyone on the Bonavista Peninsula who might need to go to the hospital could find the emergency room doors locked.
Travel a burden
Durdle says Bonavista residents who need chemotherapy have to travel to Clarenville for blood work and the treatment.
"Which is really bothersome for a lot of people. I mean, a lot of those people are really sick," he said.
He said that could be fixed by having the blood taken in Bonavista, followed by a phone call with a physician about the results. He said it would also ease the stress of travel, especially during the winter, as well as the travel costs.
Ultimately, Durdle says he's hoping chemotherapy services in Bonavista will resume soon.
Improvements ongoing
Health Minister John Hogan said he's met with residents several times since taking over the portfolio and the situation has been improving.
"We actually had a fairly productive meeting this week about it. And one of the things we did talk about was emergency room closures in Bonavista. And it has been trending in the right direction," he told CBC News.
There have been far fewer closures, Hogan said, and the addition of virtual care for the emergency room has helped.
Hogan said that when he spoke with residents, including community members and town councillors, they were pleased with the progress that has been made so far and the department is working to get the closures down to zero.
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With files from The St. John’s Morning Show and Carolyn Stokes
