LETTER — Confirming ‘that you are an unattached patient’

Further to your article about the family physician crisis and my reply, here’s the email I received from DoFP, Thompson Region,back in April of this year :

“I hope you are doing well. I’d like to clarify that the Division is maintaining a registry of contact information, not a waitlist. The Division is currently conducting a pilot project under our “A GP For Me” initiative where we use information collected from people who are looking for a family doctor to connect them with a practice that has capacity to take on new patients. At this time, there is a significant doctor shortage and space is severely limited. We are continuing recruitment efforts.

“I have received your forms via mail. I’m sorry for the delay in sending them, as we are experiencing a serious backlog. I also apologize that you were given incorrect information about the forms. Please be assured that the delay in sending them has not impacted your status on our registry. It is simply to confirm that you are an unattached patient. You will be contacted if there is space available for you in a practice. “

Needless to say, I have not had another word from them.

GINNY RATSOY

Kamloops