BC’s Health Minister is suggesting new money headed toward Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt is going to remain earmarked for physician recruitment.

Adrian Dix says the new multi-million dollar allocation announced Wednesday has a specific purpose.

“This is about physicians. What it is…is a new contract which changes the way physicians are compensated. We’ve been signing these contracts for years and working with physicians both locally and across the province,” Dix told NL Mornings on Thursday.  “We’ve approved and funded what are called alternative payment plans, which is essentially not to pay doctors based on how busy they are — which is fee-for-service — but paying for people for their overall time dedicated to the hospital.”

The Mayor of Merritt says, while he welcomes any money to help keep his hospital’s emergency room open, he hopes to be able to “tweak” a new provincial offering.

The province announced Wednesday it’s providing 7.5-million for the recruitment of more doctors at the Nicola Valley Hospital, as well as in Salmon Arm and Oliver.

Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz says while he appreciates the funding, he notes their biggest issue in keeping the local ER open isn’t doctors, its nurses.

“I’m hoping that we’re going to be able to maybe modify our contribution that they’re coming to us [with] so we can secure some sort of incentives for nurses,” Goetz told NL Newsday on Wednesday.

“Any kind of investment into one of these three communities that has been shut down consistently is welcome news at any point and time. I’m just hoping that we can modify it so it works to our needs.”

Goetz says it’s still not clear what portion of the 7.5-million from the province will be dedicated to Merritt itself, but does say its appears the funding is a permanent allocation.

Merritt’s Emergency Room has been shut down 18 times this year due to staffing shortages, the vast majority of them due to a lack of nurses.