Patients concerned about health as 3 P.E.I. doctors wind down practices
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Jenna Munn mentioned it was nearly like “rapid heartbreak” Monday when she immediately came upon she was considered one of about 5,400 sufferers on P.E.I. who can be with no household physician on the finish of the month.
Her doctor, Dr. Jocelyn Peterson, is considered one of at the very least three docs who’re leaving their practices on P.E.I.
“I used to be shocked,” Munn mentioned.
“I’ve gone by means of some well being points the previous few years. They are not typical cookie-cutter points I have been coping with, so to go to a walk-in clinic or to begin contemporary with a brand new physician … it is irritating.”
Peterson is leaving June 24. Dr. Ray Cooke and Dr. Kris Saunders are additionally leaving inside weeks.
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Their departures will add to the rising record of individuals on P.E.I.’s affected person registry, which at present sits at about 23,000.
Ashley Tippett may quickly be added to that record. She and her household have been reserving appointments with Saunders for 15 years.
“We had been very fortunate to have somebody to name. So it was fairly stunning to listen to now we cannot.”
CBC reached out to Saunders and Peterson to ask why they’re leaving their practices, however haven’t heard again.
In a letter posted at his clinic, Cooke mentioned he is shifting into a brand new job with Veterans Affairs Canada subsequent month.
Different providers
Well being P.E.I. mentioned sufferers will get letters quickly, instructing them on what providers they’ll entry that do not require a household physician, resembling walk-in clinics and the digital well being service Maple.
Tippett expects these sources are about to get extra overloaded than they already are.
“I’ve dropped into clinics a number of instances earlier than and gone too late. Or moving into on-line ready rooms, I’ve by no means been in a position to efficiently get in.”
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Physician recruitment and retention continues to be an issue, in response to Well being P.E.I. It hopes transitioning to medical houses and neighbourhoods, the place docs are only one a part of a workforce of medical professionals that see sufferers, will assist ease the stress.
However that can take time, leaving little consolation to sufferers like Munn.
“Well being issues usually do not await time. In order that’s actually simply the largest concern.”