Doctor shortage reaches ears of CBS council

By Craig Westcott/October 14, 2022

The shortage of family doctors in Conception Bay South, and on the Avalon generally, is not going unnoticed at the town council.

Ward 4 councillor Melissa Hardy told her colleagues last week that she recently spoke with a family doctor in town who apprised her of some of the challenges facing physicians and patients. 

“They’ve actually been doing a tally and there are 51 family practitioners and general practitioners from the family medicine side who have either retired or left in 2021-2022,” said Hardy. “So, she’s certainly getting concerned as a family practitioner in the CBS location, and she just wanted us to be aware of that. I let her know that we’ve already spoken with some of the MHAs and (Avalon MP) Ken McDonald on that. I just wanted to put it out there that we’ve heard them and hopefully with the government announcement today (a ‘Come Home Year’ financial incentive to entice former Newfoundland health professionals living away to bring their skills back here) that will alleviate some of the concerns of residents.”

On a somewhat related note, Hardy also congratulated Councillor-at-Large Joshua Barrett, his wife Kelsey and daughter Layla on the recent birth of the newest addition to the family – a baby girl.

“Yes, we all have our best wishes for councillor Barrett and his family this evening,” said Mayor Darrin Bent. “He’s not with us because he has more important things to attend to, but we’re looking forward to that arrival.”