The provincial government was questioned on Wednesday regarding the availability of physicians at various long-term care facilities in Prince Edward Island.
Opposition Leader Hal Perry raised concerns about a recent incident where a community-owned long-term care home in Tignish initially received notification of no doctor coverage for the upcoming weekend, only to later receive a contradictory email stating coverage until November 30, after which it would cease. Perry revealed that further investigation revealed five homes in West Prince and Charlottetown were affected.
Perry emphasized the essential need for physician coverage in these facilities, stating that without it, seniors would be compelled to seek care at already overwhelmed hospital emergency rooms. He warned that without a resolution, numerous seniors may face uncertainty about remaining in these homes.
Responding to the criticism, Health Minister Mark McLane denied any neglect and assured that the department would ensure continued coverage for long-term care homes until the end of November. He acknowledged the shortage of doctors but promised ongoing care for residents.
CBC News spoke with the president of the Tignish seniors home, expressing concerns about doctor coverage post-November 30. McLane confirmed extended physician coverage beyond that date but could not specify the duration.
McLane attributed the lack of doctor coverage to the pending Physician Services Agreement, ensuring that patients would not be discharged or sent back to hospitals. He emphasized the importance of providing support to long-term care facilities as residents’ rightful homes.
Perry highlighted that doctors rendering services had not been compensated for their October work, to which McLane assured that they would receive their due payment.
In a separate development, McLane mentioned that seven physicians from Quebec had shown interest in working in Prince Edward Island as locums for a short period. Health P.E.I. is concentrating efforts on Quebec and dispatching a recruitment team to four cities in the province amid a surge in Quebec physicians seeking opportunities elsewhere due to recent legislative changes affecting their pay.