O’LEARY
Progress is being made in addressing the physician shortage in West Prince.
Health P.E.I. has confirmed that a full-time permanent family physician has been recruited to West Prince and will commence a practice in O’Leary this fall.
Health P.E.I. also reported that letters of offer are pending for the remaining two vacancies in West Prince, and that a locum family physician has expressed interest in working in the Tyne Valley area this fall. “We hope to be able to confirm their recruitment in the near future,” a Health P.E.I. statement indicated.
Eva Rodgerson, chair of the O’Leary Community Health Foundation is encouraged that a doctor has been recruited to fill an O’Leary vacancy.
“One is a good start, but we’re hoping for more,” she said, expressing confidence ongoing recruitment efforts will bring the desired results to West Prince.
Foundation members have participated in site visits by five physicians interested in the area in recent months and Rodgerson said there appeared to be a genuine interest.
Krystyna Pottier with the Western Hospital Foundation has also been in on five site visits and she said the visiting physicians had lots of good things to say about the region, including proximity to schools, gyms and that they regarded the area as beautiful and a safe place to live.
Rodgerson also expressed encouragement over a recent job posting for a full-time ambulatory care nurse for the O’Leary Health Centre. She said the foundation has been lobbying for the position for three and a half years. She held up a copy of the job posting: “I think I will have it framed.”
“It’s a great need in the area and I’m just thankful Minister Mitchell and Minister Henderson worked on our behalf and got this in place,” she said. Robert Mitchell is the current Minister of Health and Robert Henderson is the O’Leary-Inverness MLA and had served as Minister of Health prior to Mitchell.
Rodgerson sees the job posting as a further example of health care improvements in the area. She feels the position will allow for greater utilization of the O’Leary Health Centre, such as enabling O’Leary area residents who require intravenous to fight infections to obtain the treatment in O’Leary.
“This is a big plus for a lot of people,” she commented.
“It’s a nice clinic but I can’t go there,” she described some of the regular feedback, and suggested having an ambulatory nurse will allow for greater utilization. The foundation has provided the funds for the necessary furnishings for the ambulatory care space. She added that the foundation is also funding the setting up of a training lab at the facility which she believes will also serve as an additional recruitment tool.
