Nova Scotia family doctor wait list launches to fix shortage
Rachel Ward | CBC News | Posted: November 1, 2016 9:30 AM | Last Updated: November 1, 2016
'It doesn't feel great not to have access to care,' says health authority vice-president
Lynne Harrigan is a doctor and a vice-president of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, but she doesn't have a family doctor.
"I can tell you it doesn't feel great not to have access to care — particularly if you have chronic health issues," she said.
The health authority is making a list of Nova Scotians who need a family doctor. As of Monday, people can join the wait list online or by calling 811.
People on the list will be given the name of a doctor or nurse practitioner when there's one available. The list also will show which communities need new doctors the most, Harrigan said.
Numbers unknown
The province has about 6,000 on the wait list already. That's compiled from lists from the nine former health authorities, Harrigan said. Each person will be called over the next few weeks to confirm they still need a doctor.
But really, the province doesn't know how many people are going without care or where they live. It only has a rough estimate of who has a doctor — about 90 per cent — from the Canadian Community Health Survey by Statistics Canada, Harrigan said.
"That's just a very approximate number," she said.
"I think it's really important if we're to plan this health-care system appropriately is to actually have a sense of how many people do not have access to a family practice."
'From birth to death'
Doctor shortages have prompted community meetings over the last year. Doctors have retired or left communities, leaving thousands without focused care. Clinics have complained they're unable to hire new doctors.
Emergency rooms and walk-in clinics are "good for what ails you at the moment," but not enough for long-term care, Harrigan said. Her own doctor recently left the job after caring for her for over 25 years.
"She knew all my health concerns. She knew me. I didn't have to go into the office and re-explain," Harrigan said. "Primary care treats you from birth to death."
Ask the doctors
Alfie MacLeod, MLA for Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg, said he's heard too many stories about doctors leaving patients in the lurch — or being too busy to offer adequate care.
So while he supports this initiative, he said he hopes the province also talks to doctors to identify problems.
"If you had a problem with your car, would you do a survey or would you talk to the mechanic and say, 'what's wrong with the system?'" MacLeod said.
People can join the wait list at needafamilypractice.nshealth.ca or by calling 811.