Vacant anesthetist position could be cut from LeGrow

Almost seven years after the last doctor left the position, LeGrow Health Centre is still without a general practitioner/anesthetist.

Now Western Health is considering if it will continue trying to recruit for the position.

Dr. Ken Jenkins, the vice president of medical services with the health authority, said the position will be assessed as part of Western Health's review of its regional surgical services plan.

The final decisions from that review are expected within the next three to six months, said Dr. Jenkins.

He said there has been no public or political pressure to maintain the currently vacant position at LeGrow. Dr. Jenkins said Western Health is putting pressure on itself to make decisions on where certain surgical services will be offered through the ongoing review.

Over the last few years there have been a few candidates for the position at LeGrow, he said, but none have made it through the licensing process of the Newfoundland College of Physicians and Surgeons.

There are several reasons the position has been especially hard to fill, said Dr. Jenkins.

There is a national shortage of anesthetists, few new graduates each year and those graduates often looks to practice in larger centres where they will find a greater variety of cases. The half general practitioner and half anesthetist position can also be less attractive to some physicians.

The factors aren't likely to change any time soon.

The vacancy has meant that anesthesia services have been unavailable at LeGrow, leading to more people being sent to Corner Brook for services.

Most notably women in the last weeks of pregnancy are regularly sent to Corner Brook to stay while awaiting the birth of their child because an emergency cesarean, if needed, could not be preformed in Port aux Basques. Some scopes and other minor procedures are also impacted.

"It's part of the unfortunate reality of some of the rural parts of the region," said Dr. Jenkins, acknowledging travel to Corner Book can be challenging for some people.

That can be especially true for women who must stay for days or weeks while waiting to give birth and don't have family in the city or can't have family members travel with them.

He said Western Health's top priority is ensuring that patients receive quality service. He explained that an anesthetist practicing at LeGrow may be qualified and competent, but unable to maintain proficiency as they may not be able to practice their skills regularly.

"We want good outcomes at the end of the day," said Dr. Jenkins.

Western Health is starting to look at offering more outreach services, according to Dr. Jenkins. He said practitioners offering urology and gynecology services are now travelling to Stephenville - a shorter trip for southwest coast patients.

Dr. Jenkins said almost all non-emergency surgery is sent to Western Memorial Hospital in Corner Brook, regardless of having an anesthetist in Port aux Basques.

He said the specialty services currently offered at LeGrow are the norm for centres of its size. He added that the compliment of "very good quality" doctors in Port aux Basques is more stable than in many centres across the province.

Dr. Jenkins said Western Health intends to share information with stakeholders as it moves through the surgical services plan review.

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