Westman towns use homes to attract doctors

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This article was published 26/08/2024 (617 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CARBERRY — The mayors of two Southwestern Manitoba communities say they believe it’s important to provide housing for medical professionals who are working in or considering moving to their towns.

In Carberry, where there is now a doctor shortage, mayor Ray Muirhead said he hopes the purchase of a two-bedroom house will attract a new physician.

And in the municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, mayor Janice Smith said they “got complacent” when they had enough doctors years ago and want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“Before 2016 we had an apartment for locums (short-term fill-in physicians), to come and go,” said Smith. And then we got complacent – we thought, we’re all good, we don’t need this anymore and sold it, and we probably shouldn’t have.”

So, about two years ago, Smith and her council decided to rent a two-bedroom apartment for locums.

“Our locums stay there when they come and work the weekends. It’s a two-bedroom furnished apartment and it’s actually right across the street from our clinic and health centre. We just thought it would be the best way to make them comfortable while they’re here,” Smith said.

In Carberry there are three properties. One they call a doctor’s suite, but it is also used by nurses and other health-care professionals when needed.

An additional two-bedroom furnished apartment is for emergency medical service workers, and most recently the town bought a two-bedroom house across the street from the Carberry and District Health Centre, Muirhead said.

“We didn’t plan to be in the real estate business, but sometimes you got to think outside that box, you know?” Muirhead said. “Because if you can provide housing, that’s a big deal for people. Imagine if you went to a place to accept a job in a community and there was no place to live.

“These are the things you have to do in this day and age as incentives for when doctors come,” he said.

The community acquired the doctor’s suite “years ago,” said Muirhead. It’s located in Lyons Estates senior suites in the north end of town.

It and the other EMS apartment less than six blocks from the hospital are funded three ways, by the town of Carberry, the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford and the Carberry and Area Community Foundation.

The house that became available across the street from the hospital was the home of Dr. Hadi Azzabi, who worked and lived in the town for four years.

After Azzabi left and the house was put up for sale, council decided to make an offer of “about $160,000.”

“Property like this doesn’t come up very often, especially right across the street from the hospital,” Muirhead said.

“So, we decided, as a town, you know what? Let’s just pull the trigger, we’ll just buy it. So, we made a deal with the owner, and we take possession I think September 15th.”

The town was “able to pay cash” from the health care reserve fund that was set up for the town a couple of years ago Muirhead added, which means no cost to the taxpayers.

“And we will charge rent, not an exorbitant amount, but doctors can pay rent,” Muirhead said.

Currently the house is empty because Carberry is short doctors. Its emergency department is closed all this week and into the coming weekend, which contrasts with a grand re-opening that was held in May.

On May 10, Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara travelled to Carberry to announce that three physicians had been hired through the work of the community’s health action committee to staff the emergency room on a rotating basis.

One of those physicians, Dr. Klevis Ilriani – who is originally from Ottawa — decided not to stay in Carberry, said Muirhead. “We can’t control a doctor’s expectations, but he was good for the town, and we appreciate his efforts.”

There are two other physicians who Muirhead said, “help us out to fill the gaps.” They are Dr. Zaheed Fashola and Dr. Gerard Desmond.

Even though his town doesn’t have enough doctors to keep the ER open 24-7, Muirhead said he has hope, and losing Dr. Ilriani was “just a little misstep along the way” and his town will “make it.” That’s why, he said, it’s important to offer medical professionals a place to call home.

“With our EMS personnel we have two, possibly three, that come from outside the community,” said Muirhead. “And there was a time, at the end of their shift they didn’t have any place to stay, no place to shower or lie down. So, the suite that we have for them has worked out really well.

“It’s the little things. You can pay all the money in the world, but after a while, it’s not necessarily money, it’s quality of life and a lifestyle.”

Smith said she agreed. Killarney is expecting two new doctors by the beginning of November, she said, and while both have visited the community, it’s important they know what to expect about its size and location away from a big city.

“If it’s a better way of life that you’re looking for, with safety and quiet – not always quiet, but the pace is different. You’re not driving 45 minutes to and from your house, and you can go home and have lunch with your wife if you want to.”

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