Doctor shortages remain the top concern for the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association.
A recent survey conducted by Narrative Research for the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association shows 17 per cent of those asked don’t have a family doctor—something that reached what President Lynette Powell calls “crisis levels” in St. John’s and Conception Bay North last year.
Patients with no family doctor must rely on the Emergency Department for their health care needs.
Doctors tell the NLMA that numbers of unattached patients have grown “significantly” in places like Stephenville, Harbour Breton, Corner Brook, Lab City and Bonavista.
Residents of Pasadena raised the alarm on VOCM Open Line last week after learning their local family doctors were moving to Corner Brook.
Powell says there are similar shortages among specialists.
Hospitals in Carbonear, Clarenville, Burin, Gander, Corner Brook and Stephenville are all facing “critical” shortages of internal medicine specialists. That means patients with acute medical conditions in ICU are often diverted to other sites far from their families and supports.
