Five family doctors in Valka have until September 1 to vacate the premises rented until now in the buildings of the former Valka hospital. Their new owner company “Labāka Rītdiena” plans to develop social care services here. It is true, however, that several local businessmen are already ready to offer new premises for family doctors. Doctors have to make a choice in favor of one of the offers.
In 2008, the premises where three family doctors’ practices are located were renovated in accordance with all requirements by the then owner of the buildings, SIA “Vidzemes slimnīca”. Two family doctors once set up their practice in a slightly different building of the former Valka hospital on their own. Family doctor Ilona Uzbeka tells ReTV that she was shocked to learn that the building’s new owner is asking to vacate the offices of Labāka Rītdiena SIA by the end of this summer. Uzbek woman: “This is my sister’s room with a filing cabinet, and this is my office. There was a larger office here, then it was separated because we needed a procedure room.”
Doctor Līga Putriņa also says that it will be a pity to leave this place. The doctors understand that the new owner of the building wants to develop the services of the nursing home, as is already happening in the other parts of the building. In the meantime, family doctors are worried whether they will be able to find premises that meet the requirements of health care services elsewhere in Valka. “It is their right. We already started to be interested in something, where we can do what. These premises were specially prepared for doctors’ practices, according to all requirements. Others – then you have to start from scratch or continue something. It’s so complicated.”
The municipality of Valka region is committed to helping family doctors find other premises suitable for practice. On Tuesday afternoon, the regional government, involving the Health Inspectorate, organized an opportunity for all five family doctors to see potential rental places in person. It is offered to medics by local businessmen, because, according to the management of the local authority, the premises belonging to the municipality are in a much worse condition. There are no free funds in the budget for their repair. Gita Avote, chairman of Valka county council: “Our task was to bring them together. Next, the final decision is up to them, whether they choose one or the other room.”
Valdis Šaicāns, executive director of the municipality of Valka region: “If there are no suitable premises for the council, it is serious. Secondly, this is the majority of our family doctors, so imagine what happens if there are no doctors, the population will be on the streets.”
A local businessman offers family doctors to continue their work in apartment-type premises built in a landscaped area, where construction repair shops were once located. On the other hand, in the very center of the city, the training center “BUTS” offers spacious and airy rooms for family doctors. Here, too, they can be adapted to the needs of doctors. The representative of the Health Inspectorate, Kalvis Latsons, admits to ReTV that the offer of the facilities seen is very good. They also meet the requirements. “There it is necessary to determine the width of the door leaves. To make the facilities handicap accessible because it is there. The rest about the sinks, it can all be adjusted.”
After inspecting the premises, the family doctors indicated that they will carefully evaluate the necessary investments in each location and the rents offered by entrepreneurs in order to make a decision in the near future where to move to by September 1. “We liked the first place better. There is already a lot ready. Something needs to be rebuilt here,” says family doctor Līga Putriņa.
“We will all be closer together, and I think that the patients will also like the environment, as well as the way everyone arranges their practice, it will all be new and beautiful, the Health Inspectorate has also given its word that we can do this,” says family doctor, pulmonologist Ilona Uzbek.
The company “Labāka Rītdiena” has indicated that the Emergency Medical Assistance Center and the Emergency Assistance Brigade will remain in their place in the premises of the former Valka Hospital, as well as there will still be rooms where outpatients are accepted by “Vidzeme Hospital” doctors.
Photo: Freepik; illustrative
