Coming doctors shortage in Truro must be addressed

Seven doctors set to leave community

TRURO – Lenore Zann, NDP MLA for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River, is raising concerns that the Liberals have no plan to deal with a doctors shortage on the horizon in the Truro area. Seven doctors in the area will stop practicing this year, largely due to retirements.

“Doctors are vital to the health of our rural communities. The doctor shortage has been getting worse and worse since the Liberals have taken office,” said Zann. “Over the past few years I have been contacted by numerous residents who can’t find a family practice. When doctors retire or leave thousands more people can end up without one, and then simply rely on the walk-in-clinics and outpatient -- which are overwhelmed. I am very worried about what this means for our community."

There are currently 17 vacancies in the Northern Health Zone, and the Health Authority only managed to recruit seven doctors last year. There are over 47,000 people on the NSHA’s waiting list for a family doctor.

“The McNeil government has shown time and time again that they do not have a handle on the doctor shortage. When I speak to people around the province, this is the number one issue I hear about,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill. “It’s hugely unacceptable that the McNeil Liberals refuse to make the investments needed in the health care of the people of the province.”

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