The MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port says the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association has identified what it calls a “catastrophic shortage” of family physicians in the district.

Tony Wakeham says he recently received an email from a woman who lost her family doctor and needed her prescription renewed.

He told the House that she called 811 and they were able to give her a refill, but that a family doctor or an emergency room physician would have to provide the next refill.

Health Minister John Haggie calls it “ironic” since the province has more family physicians than it has ever had before but access to those doctors seems to be more challenged.

He says the province is working with the NLMA by providing funding for their Family Practice Renewal Project, as well as other collaborative programs to assist “orphaned patients.” That includes a team-based approach that Haggie says will be a major pillar of their future negotiations with the NLMA.