KIPLING — Kipling has had a rollercoaster ride with physicians lately, losing three doctors last summer, seeing three come to town in the fall, and at the end of this month, watching two of those new arrivals leave, citing personal reasons for their departure
A large delegation of a dozen people attended the Kipling town council meeting on Jan. 13 to discuss concerns around health care in Kipling.
Longtime resident and former Kipling and District Health Foundation member Glen McMillan spoke on behalf of the delegation.
“We have serious times ahead,” he told council. “I’m curious whether health care is at the top of your list, and if it’s not, then I would do my best to try to convince you to put it there because I truly believe that we’re at a pivotal point in health care.”
During the shortages, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has been using a virtual physician program, as well as a nurse practitioner and an advanced authorized practice nurse, which will all remain while recruitment continues and one physician serves the local area.
While surrounding communities also struggle with doctor retention, McMillan wondered how long it will be before Kipling loses their health services altogether.
“If you don’t think that’s a possibility, I would encourage you to research it, because I think it’s fair to say, ever since about 15 years ago, it has gone downhill,” he said. “The main challenge is getting doctors, and the bigger challenge is keeping them.”
One suggestion he did bring to council was reaching out to Moosomin as a partner to look at sharing resources, stressing the importance of working together.
“You need partners because you can’t do it on your own,” McMillan told council.
While the town is open to the regional approach—the Kipling & District Health Foundation exemplifies that ideal in its makeup, 小蓝视频 comprised of representatives from the town, surrounding villages and RMs—Mayor Pat Jackson says she doesn’t see local willingness 小蓝视频 the roadblock. In an interview with the World-Spectator, Jackson noted how the health centres in Moosomin, Broadview, and Kipling each use “very different computer programs for all their work.”
“It’s going to take a period of time before the powers that be in SHA come to the realization that this may be a step, one of probably many steps towards some kind of permanent solution, but it’s certainly something that could extend the reach for all three communities,” she said, adding that all the centres are currently working at peak levels. “Moosomin doesn’t want all of Kipling’s patients, they’re loaded to the gills as it is, but we’ve each got a task to perform in it.”
One strong takeaway from the delegation last week for Mayor Jackson was McMillan’s idea to hold a public meeting with invitations sent out to both local 小蓝视频s (Daryl Harrison of the Cannington constituency and Kevin Weedmark of the Moosomin-Montmartre constituency), plus Souris-Moose Mountain MP Dr. Robert Kitchen.
“The hospital is not closed, it is operating,” Mayor Jackson reassured. “Yes, we have bypasses now and again, particularly if a piece of equipment goes down, they have no choice sometimes, but it’s operating.”
The most recent disruption at the Kipling Integrated Health Centre was Jan. 7 to 9 when emergency services were not available due to lab equipment 小蓝视频 unavailable. In an advisory issued by the SHA, residents were instructed to attend either Moosomin or Regina for emergency services.
Mayor Jackson explained that Saskdocs is the agency that does the recruiting before placing candidates through the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program.
While an exact date has not been decided for the community meeting, Mayor Jackson said she would prefer some time before politicians become busy with the Legislative session in March.
Sewer agreement
Council approved a three-year contract with Municipal Sewer Maintenance, which will see a rising cost each year of two cents per lineal foot. Current rates are 79 cents, rising to 82 with the final cost 小蓝视频 86 cents per lineal foot at the end of the three years.
New probes approved
Council approved the purchase of new probes at the Water Treatment Plant after receiving an invoice from Delco Water for $9.937.50
“They normally only last four years, and we’ve had an extra year out of them,” noted Mayor Jackson.
The idea of setting aside money in the annual budget for the expense for future years was also proposed as full replacement of all probes happens every four years.
“Maybe that’s something we should be thinking about, is deliberately putting away $2,500 when we do budgeting for that, so that when it comes to the fourth year, the money is right there,” Mayor Jackson said.
Zoning bylaw on Main St. property
The property at 517 Main Street once again came before council, this time for a request to amend the zoning bylaw as it affects use of the space. Currently, the property is zoned Commercial, and the owner is requesting to remove stipulations on commercial/residential mixes. The specific part of that bylaw refers to commercial, office, or residential uses 小蓝视频 permitted on any floor, but that no floor may contain a mix of residential and commercial.
“We’ve already got buildings with that,” noted Mayor Jackson. “So if we remove that, it’s not really changing the landscape of Main Street.”
The change will not be quick as it would require 小蓝视频 advertised, a public hearing would need to be held, and council would need to give three readings to the amendment.
“I did hear that there are some business people that are not for this, and they would be at the public hearing,” noted Interim Administrator Christina Weeding.
After some discussion, council moved to amend the Zoning Bylaw, removing section 5.8.6 which states “Commercial or office or residential uses are permitted on any floor, but no floor may contain a mix of residential and commercial/office uses.”
