Nurse Practioner Moves

Nurse practitioner moves on
Community health board voices concern to health minister
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier

Nurse practitioner moves on
Community health board voices concern to health minister
Nurse practitioner Karen Snider has accepted a job in Thompson, Man., even as another community group speaks up in hopes of getting her back to the Islands Health Clinic in Freeport.


Snider agreed to a short-term contract and will be out west for a couple of months.

“This is an incredibly sad day for us, who so much counted on her care,” said Andy Moir on his blog, saveournurse.wordpress.com. “We all wish Karen the best. Thompson, Man., should consider itself very lucky to get her.”

Municipality of Digby warden, who represents the area, said Snider’s move is not the end of dealing with the issue of the district health authority. “Whether it’s the end as far as Karen goes, I hope that’s not the case either. I knew something like this would happen but I feel that she still wants to be part of this community.”

Thurber said Snider still has her home here and wants to return to and may work contract jobs for two or three months until something is arranged to have her employed here again.

He hopes to eventually have Snider back where she belongs at the Islands Health Clinic.

“This is certainly a sad situation we find ourselves in, but we’re still optimistic it can be reversed,” Thurber added.

Digby and Area Community Health Board chair Donna Tidd has written Health Minister Maureen MacDonald and the District Health Authority asking for reinstatement of Snider to correct what was termed the negative impact on the community on the Neck and Islands.

Tidd said the letter was written to let residents know the board supports them and to alert the minister of health, “We’re not just simply going to sit back and believe everything we’re told.

“The feeling is the minister of health is responsible for district health authorities. It’s the same as the minister of education being responsible for school boards and I’m having a real problem with this minister of health continuingly saying that it’s up to the health authorities,” Tidd said.

She understands a lot of things have not been made public, which is fine but does not understand why Macdonald cannot step in.

When asked how she thought the community could make things right, Tidd said, “Everyone’s got to be on the same page, working together and right now the feeling is, their not.”

A group of community members are meeting today to figure out some options, said Thurber.

ldelong@digbycourier.ca