(File photo.)
The provincial government today announced new measures to support the recruitment and retention of doctors.
The NLMA last week released a survey showing that 24% of respondents do not have a family doctor. Extrapolating the numbers, this equates to about 125,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradors without a family doctor, according to the Medical Association.
On Friday, the province announced it was launching a public consultation to examine obstacles to the recognition of foreign qualifications and identify opportunities for improvement.
Yesterday, Dr. Pat Parfrey, a member of the Health Agreement, was appointed Deputy Minister of Health Transformation.
Prime Minister Andrew Fury will be joined by Memorial University Dean of Medicine Dr. Margaret Steele and medical student Georgia Darmonkov this afternoon at the MUN to announce the latest measures.
VOCM News will be there.
In the meantime. Virtual ER services have been set up at Rufus Guichard Health Center in Port Saunders to fill the gap left by a temporary shortage of doctors.
Patients arriving in the emergency department of the facility will be assessed virtually from now until 6 pm tomorrow.
Western Health says a health care provider will be available on site to help patients be assessed virtually and then transported to the most appropriate hospital if needed.
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