BC senior takes out ad in desperate quest to find a doctor for her husband

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UPDATE: Janet Mort confirmed to Global News Tuesday that a doctor has come forward and agreed to take her husband on as a patient.

Readers of a widely circulated Vancouver Island newspaper opened their broadsheets July 30, 2022, to find a shocking sign of just how bad British Columbia’s family doctor crisis has become.

Printed on page A2 of the Victoria Times Colonist was an unusual newspaper ad: a plea for help from a Greater Victoria senior.

“We need a doctor’s help to renew my 82-year-old husband’s prescriptions. We will agree to any reasonable fee,” the ad reads.

“Our wonderful family doctor retired at Christmas. No walk-in clinics seem to be available. Today even Telus Health MyCare had no Dr. virtual appointments available for months,” it continues.

The ad was posted by Janet Mort, an Order of British Columbia recipient who has a PhD in language and literacy and who has been lauded for work helping children overcome reading problems.

Mort's husband of 51 years Michael is dealing with a variety of medical conditions, including recovery from recent brain surgery.

When their doctor retired more than six months ago, he renewed Michael's prescriptions and recommended a few options including Telus' telemedicine platform. Kylie Stanton reports.