The CEO of NL Health Services confirms that all five internal medicine specialists at St. Clare’s hospital have submitted their resignations in an apparent dispute over working conditions and pay.

Dr. Pat Parfrey says remuneration is an issue between the bargaining agent – in this case, the NLMA and the government.

However, Parfrey says the health authority is in discussion with the internists on working conditions and he hopes to have the matter resolved in the coming days.

“We are having discussions with the internists and other people affected by this, and I’m fairly confident that we’ll have a resolution to this over the next couple of days” says Parfrey.

“I do understand that the withdrawal of the residents from St. Clare’s has changed their working conditions, but that wasn’t our responsibility, that was the Medical School’s responsibility, and we are working to be able to get a resolution to the problems that this has created.”

Health Minister says plan is being put in place to ensure continuation of services

Minister Krista Lynn Howell echoes Parfrey’s sentiments, saying that a plan is being put in place to ensure that services continue.

Howell wouldn’t comment on what exactly the plan entails, noting that’s a question best directed towards the health authority, but does say it addresses the service delivery gap resulting from the removal of the residency program.

Howell says she is confident that there won’t be gaps in service.

“Nobody has abandoned their post, let’s be clear. You know, this is not the matter of no services available today. I can appreciate the frustration that comes in a long-term discussion on something as complex as this.”

“So, while I may disagree with the tactics that were deployed to get us to this point today, I know that it’s been a long-standing discussion, but nobody has thrown down and went home. So, we do believe that we’re in a place right now where resolution is imminent and we’re confident that the plan will resolve this issue.”

NLMA ‘deeply alarmed’ by resignations

The NLMA meanwhile says it is “deeply alarmed that five internal medicine physicians have tendered their resignations.”

The Medical Association says it is aware of “significant challenges” related to physician coverage in internal medicine at St. Clare’s for more than a year.

The association says it has worked with the Department of Health to develop a “comprehensive strategy to address daytime coverage challenges with internal medicine at St. Clare’s” – something it says is an “ongoing and evolving process.”

The NLMA says it was informed a month ago that Memorial University had made the decision to withdraw medical residents in training from the St. Clare’s site effective July 1st.

That, says the NLMA, has created additional pressures for after-hours physician coverage in internal medicine at St. Clare’s.

The NLMA is collaborating with the department and NLHS on solutions for sustaining internal medicine services across the province. The association has negotiated a new contract with the province which it expects will be finalized and signed in the coming months. It is optimistic that the agreement will provide “important tools to support recruitment and retention efforts across the province.”

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The leader of the provincial NDP, Jim Dinn, says the physical condition of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital is not the reason for the resignation of all five of its internal medicine specialists.

Instead, Dinn blames their impending departure on October 1st on what he calls a failure by NL Health Services to properly plan for human resource challenges.

The specialists themselves have stated they are at capacity. They say the elimination of the hospital’s internship program has left them short-staffed and without necessary support.

Government plans to build a new hospital in the Kenmount Park area to replace St. Clare’s.

He says it’s not about the building being old as the new section of the complex is only about six years older than the Health Sciences. He says it’s about not having enough people to deal with the patients who are presenting at the hospital.

NLHS says working conditions stem from changes made by MUN Medical School

The CEO of NL Health Services confirms that the resignations have been submitted in an apparent dispute over pay.

Dr. Pat Parfrey says remuneration is an issue between the bargaining agent, in this case, the NLMA and the government.

However, Parfrey says the health authority is in discussion with the internists on working conditions and he hopes to have the matter resolved in the coming days.

“We are having discussions with the internists and other people affected by this, and I’m fairly confident that we’ll have a resolution to this over the next couple of days” says Parfrey.

“I do understand that the withdrawal of the residents from St. Clare’s has changed their working conditions, but that wasn’t our responsibility, that was the Medical School’s responsibility, and we are working to be able to get a resolution to the problems that this has created.”

Minister Krista Lynn Howell will speak to the matter with reporters this afternoon at 2:00. VOCM News will be there.