The Opposition is raising the alarm after receiving a number of complaints from soon-to-be family physicians who attended a recent recruitment and retention presentation at Memorial University.
The virtual presentation, conducted by the Department or Health and including Minister John Haggie, was made on November 24.
The NL College of Family Physicians has since written the Premier outlining the concerns raised by some family medicine residents who say they felt they were being “scolded” by the Minister.
Opposition Health Critic Paul Dinn says he received similar complaints.
Dinn was told by some residents they came out of the sessions feeling like the process was a “waste of time” with none of the questions they had answered. He told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that the minister provided an introduction and his desire for back and forth dialogue and proceeded to “scold us on not to talk poorly of him or government on Facebook, and instead send him an email and he’ll get back to them.”
In the meantime, Premier Andrew Furey has reached out to the group to meet with them to discuss their concerns. Minister Haggie says “it is unfortunate” that those in attendance felt frustrated or dissatisfied. He tells VOCM News he offered his email and phone number to the group to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have and the “offer still stands.”
“On November 24, I was invited to bring greetings at the MUN School of Medicine family medicine resident group for the first five minutes of their event, after which I had to leave. I was happy to speak to this group as we recognize the importance of recruitment and retention in Newfoundland and Labrador. We have announced a number of initiatives to address challenges in the healthcare system, including the establishment of a Provincial Health Professional Recruitment and Retention Office, which will be operational in the new year. This office will lead the development of a comprehensive and coordinated provincial approach to improve recruitment and retention efforts. Priority for staff in the office will be to further develop and implement programming to support competitive strategies to attract and retain health care professionals. The recruitment of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, as well as other valued health care professionals, will be strengthened by this approach to support and modernize new and existing human resource practices and programs. We will be looking at expanding seat capacity, growing our own, enticing people back to the province and welcoming health professional newcomers to the province.
It is unfortunate that those in attendance felt frustrated and dissatisfied. I offered my email and phone number to the group to reach out with any questions or concerns. That offer still stands and I encourage those who attended to connect with me if they would like to discuss matters.
Premier Furey has reached out to the group to offer to meet with them to discuss their concerns and hope to meet in the near future.”
