P.E.I. city desperate to house locum amid doctor shortage, housing crisis

A widespread physician scarcity on P.E.I. coupled with the Island’s housing disaster left one metropolis interesting on social media for the general public’s assist to seek out lodging for a locum physician.

“It appears as if we’re extra reliant on locums now than we have ever been,” mentioned Dr. Tyler McDonell, medical director on the Prince County Hospital in Summerside, the province’s second largest metropolis.

“However I do not suppose that is distinctive to PCH. I believe that is a system-wide phenomenon.”

Whereas some departments have managed to get their staffing up, he mentioned others are nonetheless very quick — and a couple of at present rely solely on locums to function.

McDonell mentioned bringing in locums — momentary docs from outdoors the province introduced in to assist cowl off leaves and gaps in protection — can be a very good recruiting device.

‘Actually, actually tough’

Since January 2022, McDonell mentioned the hospital has had between 50 and 60 positions that should be crammed, with 31 completely different docs filling them.

However getting them right here can generally be a problem.

“There is a want for locums all throughout the nation, and these individuals are likely to have the flexibility to go the place they need to go,” he mentioned. “They’re pulled in each route.” 

And the province’s housing state of affairs is a problem, too.

In accordance with the latest information from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Company, the emptiness charge in Summerside was 1.5 per cent in 2021 — down from the yr earlier than.

“That is needed for each locum that comes, all of them want a spot to dwell,” mentioned McDonell. 

“It is normally a doable factor … nevertheless it’s summertime, P.E.I. is busy and we’re remarkably depending on locums — it is change into actually, actually tough.” 

Asking the general public for assist

The Metropolis of Summerside not too long ago took the bizarre step of posting on social media asking for assist in discovering lodging for one locum physician.

“He’s searching for a 1-2 bed room, furnished, with nice WIFI, and near hospital if potential,” the put up reads. “We would actually respect if any availabilities are on the market and you might ahead particulars.”

“It may be difficult and completely summertime we’re packed,” mentioned Gordon MacFarlane, the performing CAO for Summerside.

“It is simply a kind of belongings you attempt to work via and discover the physician an incredible spot to remain for him and the household.”

‘It takes a village’

Hospital officers have a tendency to assist discover individuals a spot to remain via phrase of mouth however generally it requires extra progressive options. 

“I assume if it actually got here to it, I would possible lease out my home,” MacFarlane mentioned. 

“We’ll transfer heaven and earth to make it possible for the physician has someplace to dwell. As a result of they’re clearly a key a part of the entire financial and well being engine that makes the group run.”

The town mentioned members of the general public stepped up to seek out the physician housing — welcome information because the hospital is hoping to rent him completely. 

“It takes a village, proper, to maintain a system like this going,” mentioned McDonell.   

“It will take a number of heavy lifting and a number of inventive pondering to proceed to beat the issue.”