Another heart surgeon is on the way to the province from Toronto to help ease the cardiac waitlist.

Dr. Sean Connors, Clinical Chief of Eastern Health’s Cardiac Care Program, says there are currently about 175 heart patients on that waitlist and only three heart surgeons in the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador is actively recruiting more doctors, and Connors says two Newfoundlanders are currently in training for the job and are expected to start in the province over the next few years.

Dr. Connors says they assess patients to see whose needs are more urgent. Those who can wait for surgery will do so at home. He says he feels for those who are waiting at home, as the backlog is much longer than he would like, but they have to go through the waitlist safely and do what’s best for each patient.

Dr. Connors says it’s not simply surgeons, but nurses, assistants, anesthesiologists, cardiologists among others who are crucial to heart operations.

He also stresses that if anyone is worried about their health to get checked out by your family doctor or go to the emergency room without delay.