Burin Peninsula welcomes new clinics, still short doctors
Eastern Health is dealing with a shortage of family doctors on the Burin Peninsula by opening two new clinics.
A new clinic north of Marystown has opened, along with a temporary clinic in the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre in Salt Pond.
Long time coming
The new, permanent office — located in what's locally called Boat Harbour — was four years in the making.
It started when Dr. Justice Arthur, who practices in the temporary Salt Pond clinic, and a now-retired colleague asked the provincial government for a central clinic to replace smaller part-time clinics scattered throughout three communities north of Marystown.
"When you assume a leadership role, you always want to leave an impact and this is one of the services that I will be proud of once my term of office is complete," Arthur said.
The two new spaces have become more vital to residents since two doctors left their practices last year, putting stress on the area's three emergency rooms.
- Doctor shortage on Burin Peninsula worrisome for patients
- Short-term fix coming for doctor shortage on Burin Peninsula
"There has been a strain particularly for St. Lawrence, because as you know, we only have three physicians in that building, and to absorb about 1,500 to 2,000 patients was a bit of a strain," said Arthur.
Recruitment
The new clinic in Marystown provides a range of services, from blood collection to mental health services. It has a rotating staff of three physicians, but still needs a full-time nurse practitioner.
Even with the addition of the new office, the Burin Peninsula is short two doctors.
Kim Green, senior site supervisor at the clinic north of Marystown, said doctor recruitment is difficult in rural areas where doctors often work more and have other challenges.
Recruitment efforts have partially paid off; a family practice doctor is scheduled to open a new clinic in Burin when he's finished training in June.
At that time, Eastern Health will reassess the need for the temporary clinic in Salt Pond.
In the meantime, staff at the new clinic are looking for a name for the building.