Burns Lake is about to lose it’s only full-time doctor.
Doctor Kibonge will be leaving at an unspecified date. According to Northern Health (NH), he is leaving for family reasons.
“The workload will be managed by the remaining physicians and locum support, and the emergency department is expected to remain open,” said Eryn Collins, NH spokesperson.
Recently, the Burns Lake hospital has been short-staffed in its emergency room, leading to reports of patients being diverted to other hospitals in the region.
“It should be noted that a recent emergency room coverage issue was related to an unexpected and unavoidable nursing shortage, and not to any physician issues,” clarified Colins. “Physician recruitment for Burns Lake continues to be a high priority for Northern Health.”
Doctor Kibonge came to Burns Lake from South Africa in June, 2012. When he arrived, he became Burns Lake’s only full-time doctor.
At the time, he joked that he didn’t mind the workload, but to get back to him in a year.
“Ask me again in year and see if the answer has changed,” he said at the time.
Burns Lake has not yet enjoyed the success other northern communities have had in attracting doctors.
In the span of one year, the Stuart Lake hospital in Fort St. James went from one doctor to four full-time physicians.
Currently, Burns Lake is served by three part-time doctors, and Dr. Kibonge.