The one operating room at 100 Mile District General Hospital is operational three days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays), generally from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for minor surgical and scope procedures.

Interior Health is reviewing this service, which had 530 procedures performed in 2008-2009.

Andrew Neuner, Interior Health Thompson Cariboo Shuswap health service area chief operating officer, says these procedures are booked in advance and are elective procedures during which no hospitalization is required.

He adds three physicians perform procedures, such as dental work, carpal tunnel surgery, vasectomies and colonoscopies, in 100 Mile House.

The OR has also been used for an average of 16 caesarian sections during the past five years.

Neuner says patients in emergency situations are normally stabilized through the emergency room and then transferred to a higher-level facility.

The only exception would be emergency C-sections and that would depend on the staffing available, he adds.

100 Mile physician, Dr. Franky Mah, says the loss of the surgical program would affect the obstetrics program because there would be no caesarean section backup.

He adds closing the operating room would also affect the emergency room because it would mean the loss of a surgeon on call for trauma cases and more serious cases as well as anesthesia.

“It would have a broad effect on the whole provision of medical care in 100 Mile House.”

Mah says recruitment and retention of physicians would definitely be more difficult without a surgical program.

Meanwhile, Neuner says Interior Health is not prepared to answer a hypothetical question. However, he notes there are communities where there is no OR and physicians are successfully recruited.

“Physicians are attracted to communities for a variety of reasons, both professional and personal.”

The issue will be discussed at a meeting with Ministry of Health personnel, Interior Health, physicians and local politicians Oct. 9.