As Quadra Islanders confront the upcoming loss of a family doctor, two organizations have joined forces to raise money to secure a replacement. Dr. Steve Hughes, a cornerstone of the Quadra Island Health Society (QIHS) clinic, is retiring in September. His retirement leaves the community with the potential loss of an important medical practice and all the valuable health programs it offers. If the clinic closes, islanders could also lose a registered nurse, a mental health workers, social worker and all on-island lab services. In
response, the QIHS and Quadra Island Foundation (QIF) are partnering to raise $50,000 for a replacement physician. The funds raised will be used to engage Canada Medical Careers, a professional medical recruiting agency specializing in physician placement. The agency will lead the search and facilitate the hiring process to find a doctor willing to make Quadra Island their home and to practice there. “Every Islander benefits from the services offered by the volunteer-run Quadra Island Health Society, whether they are direct patients or not,” said
Marc Doll, the Chair of the Quadra Island Foundation. “The variety of medical services and programs offered by the QIHS is fundamental to our community, and we are proud to support the Health Society in making sure Quadra Islanders don’t have to travel off-island for basic medical care.” The $50,000 target reflects the real-world costs of professional medical recruitment – a process that, done right, takes specialized expertise, national reach, and considerable effort, according to the organizations. “Without a coordinated and well-resourced search, communities like
Quadra Island often find themselves at the back of a long line, competing with urban centres and larger municipalities for a limited pool of available physicians,” says a media release. So far, $10,000 has been donated toward the target. The Quadra Island organizations are inviting community members, local businesses and anyone who has ever benefitted from the presence of a doctor on the island, along with the many programs and services provided by the Quadra Island Medical Clinic, to donate. The Quadra Island Foundation is
now accepting donations to the Health Access Fund. Charitable tax receipts will be issued for all individual donations of $50 or more. Donations can be made by contacting the Foundation directly at giving@QuadraIslandFoundation.ca. Donations can also be made at https://quadraislandhealth.ca/.
Quadra Island, Quadra Island Health Society, Quadra Island Foundation, Dr. Steve Hughes, Canada Medical Careers, Health Access Fund, physician recruitment, family doctor, island health services, mental health workers, registered nurse, social worker, on-island lab services
So it’s $50k to find a doctor… why can’t the province just do that.
Retiring in September is rough. If they lose the nurse and mental health stuff too, that’s gonna be a mess for people who can’t just hop on a ferry all the time.
Wait “Canada Medical Careers” is like a recruiter right? Idk I feel like they should just offer Dr. Hughes a bonus to stay… or hire the replacement faster without all this middleman stuff. Also $10k already?? that seems low if they need $50k.
I’m confused like… if the clinic is volunteer-run how come it even needs that much money? Maybe they’re closing the on-island lab too and that’s why they’re panicking. People will end up driving to the city anyway, just saying.