N.L. doctor shortage affects arthritis patients

A Newfoundland and Labrador woman with rheumatoid arthritis is worried the departure of one of the province's four adult arthritis specialists will compromise her treatment.

Melva Elliot is one of 95,000 people in the province with some form of arthritis.

"It's recommended that when you're diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis that you should at least see a specialist within the first six months," she told CBC News. "My sister in Toronto was diagnosed the same time I was, and in two weeks, she had an appointment with a rheumatologist."

But Elliot's been waiting for 13 months to see the doctor who's leaving the province.

CBC News confirmed Thursday that a St. John's rheumatologist is leaving the province this winter.

The leader of the provincial New Democratic Party worries that the departure of such specialists will leave many more people in the same situation as the one Elliot is facing.

There are shortages of anesthetists and infectious disease specialists in the province, too.

"I don't see any long-term plan for dealing with all of these vacancies," said NDP leader Lorraine Michael.

She's calling on the provincial government to do more about the shortage of medical specialists in the province.

"The government has to come up with a very aggressive plan to bring us up to something that is acceptable," said Michael. "It is complicated. I know it's not simple, but they've got to put a plan in place or where are we going to be in five years time?"

Health Minister Jerome Kennedy was unavailable for an interview despite numerous requests from CBC News.

In past interviews, provincial health officials have said that the province is working hard to recruit more medical specialists to Newfoundland and Labrador.