Members of Summerland council are disappointed that a report on the community乌鸦传媒檚 downtown failed to consider the shortage of physicians in the section on medical services available to residents.

The Downtown and Core Area Complete Communities Assessment, prepared in collaboration with Urban Systems, was created to provide a framework to address housing gaps, support infrastructure needs, and guide Summerland乌鸦传媒檚 growth.

The report focuses on housing, transportation, daily needs and infrastructure in the downtown area.

However, Summerland mayor Doug Holmes said the statements about health care, within the daily needs section, are inaccurate.

乌鸦传媒淭here is a large concentration of existing health services in the Downtown and Core Area, which is inclusive of larger health facilities (e.g. hospitals and community health facilities), pharmacies, health offices (e.g. doctors, dentists, therapists, etc.), and other related health services,乌鸦传媒� the report states. 乌鸦传媒淢ost residents in the Downtown and Core Area are within an 800-metre walk to health services except for a few peripheral areas.乌鸦传媒�

Holmes said this statement is misleading. 

乌鸦传媒淚t does not understand the doctor shortage we have,乌鸦传媒� he said.

In recent years, Summerland council has been speaking out about the shortage of doctors and the need for a primary health care facility. 

While Summerland once had a hospital, that facility closed in 2001. The Summerland After Hours Clinic, established to provide primary care needs within Summerland, closed in the summer of 2021.

The former Summerland Hospital building is used for health services, but it is not a hospital or a primary care facility.

Holmes said there is a need for a primary care in Summerland, with the nearest such facilities located in Penticton, 18 kilometres to the south.

乌鸦传媒淗aving access to primary care is fundamental to being in a complete community,乌鸦传媒� Holmes said. 

Coun. Janet Peake also said the section in the report dealing with health services is inaccurate.

乌鸦传媒淭he phrasing in this part of the report needs to be changed,乌鸦传媒� she said.

Peake said she is not attached to a family doctor at present. Instead, she has seen six different doctors for health care needs, all in Penticton.

Coun. Richard Barkwill said the need for health care providers and health care services is important, especially for Summerland乌鸦传媒檚 senior population.

乌鸦传媒淥ur elderly population has the greatest difficulty accessing primary care,乌鸦传媒� he said.

The report acknowledges Summerland has a growing and aging population, stating that the total population over the age of 65 will grow from 31 per cent in 2021 to 34 per cent in 2024. The overall population is also expected to increase during this period. The 2021 census lists a population of 12,425, while the projection for 2041 anticipates a population of 13,890.

Summerland council has deferred making a decision on the assessment report.