Baby deliveries in flux with doctor shortage

Central Health says a shortage of pediatricians is affecting where women can deliver their babies.

Dr. Richard Lush, the vice-president of medical services for Central Health, said there's only one pediatrician working at the James Paton Memorial Hospital in Gander. He said that means when that pediatrician is unavailable, women could be sent to the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor to have their children.

Lush said there have been enough obstetricians to deliver babies at both hospitals, but a pediatrician should be present for each delivery.

"If you don't have a pediatrician on staff and something happens, then we could be putting the baby at risk," said Lush. "Hence, why we move the service over to the hospital with a pediatrician."

Lush added that another full-time pediatrician has been scheduled to start work with Central Health in January 2014, which should reduce the need to move baby deliveries from hospital to hospital.