Thunder Bay regional hospital recruiting psychiatrists amid shortage
VP says hospital has been working with 'skeleton' crew for years
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is actively trying to recruit psychiatrists to combat a shortage.
A vice-president said the hospital is still maintaining good mental health programming, but recently the situation has been especially problematic.
"Over the past month, especially with March break and the need for physicians to take holidays, it was quite critical for a period of time," said Dr. Stewart Kennedy, VP of medical and academic affairs.
Kennedy said the hospital has been working with a "skeleton" crew of psychiatrists for several years, turning to locums for short-term help. He said the shortage is indicative of what's happening across Ontario.
There are no significant gaps in care for patients in wards, said Kennedy, but people may be waiting longer in emergency for a mental health consultation or a bed.
And on rare occasions, he said, the hospital has to decrease the number of beds available in the acute psychiatric ward because they don't have enough staff to provide care.
"I think that certainly burdens the emergency department and really is an inconvenience to the patients in mental health," Kennedy said.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is working with St. Joseph's Hospital to recruit psychiatrists through a number of channels, including from England where, Kennedy said, there are more psychiatrists available. He said it is especially hard to recruit psychiatrists in more rural areas.
Kennedy hopes the hospital can replenish their numbers within the next six to nine months.