Doctor opening practice in Village

Village of Harrison Hot Springs Mayor Leo Facio announced Monday evening that Harrison is getting its own doctor.

“It’s taken two years to do this,” Facio reported. “It gives me great pleasure to announce that Dr. Morgan Campbell will be serving the Village of Harrison Hot Springs as our local doctor.”

Facio says that about two or so years ago, he had a conversation with one of the doctors in the Agassiz clinic and asked the doctor at what size the village should be before the Council starts looking to get its own doctor. He told Facio they were at a good size as a community at that point, and the process began.

According to Village Councillor Bob Perry, who sent out a press release to coincide with the announcement, the last doctor practicing medicine in the community was Dr. H.V. Johnsen, who practiced in Harrison for a few years in the 1970s.

“Some 30 years have passed and during that time residents have had to rely on making medical appointments at clinics located as far away as Hope, Agassiz, Chilliwack and Mission,” Perry wrote.

Facio stated during his mayor’s report that this has been a combination of a lot of hard work - especially by Councillor Bob Perry - and meetings with Fraser Health.

Concerns regarding health care planning in Harrison were initially brought up by councillors during a meeting with Health Minister George Abbott in September, 2007. A meeting with the new Fraser health CEO Dr. Nigel Murray followed shortly after with the same concerns raised. In December of last year, the Ministry of Health followed up on Harrison’s concerns and referred the Village to Laurie Gould, director of health planning and systems development with Fraser Health Authority.

“Since that time Fraser Health and the Village have been working on a medical model that would suit a village of our size,” Perry states. “Bearing in mind that rural recruitment of physicians has become increasingly difficult globally, Harrison’s challenge seemed enormous.”

However, the Village was contacted by a family physician who liked the idea of establishing a practice locally; Dr. Morgan Campbell will soon be opening a family pracice at 2-160 Lillooet Ave., Harrison Hot Springs.

“It’s terrific news for our community,” Facio concluded.

Dr. Campbell was not reached before press time and Fraser Health did not respond before press time.

No date has been set yet for the opening, or the number of days the practice will be open.

Does Harrison need a doctor?

Send us your thoughts to news@ahobserver.com