Hospital catching up after anesthetist shortage delays

Half the patients who had their surgeries cancelled because of an anesthetist shortage at Prince County Hospital in Summerside have now had their procedures, says Health PEI.

Forty elective surgeries had to be rescheduled after one of the three anesthetists at PCH left to work in another province. The situation became more difficult when the two remaining specialists took vacations.

Hospital medical director Dr. Wassim Salamoun said no more surgeries have been cancelled. Most of the remaining patients now have surgery dates in September or October, with very few patients left to be booked.

Other P.E.I. anesthetists have helped fill in over the last two weeks, said Salamoun, and that will continue for the rest of the month. The hospital hopes to have a new, full-time replacement in the new year.