Not enough doctors, so who pays?

There is no question the current worldwide financial crisis touches people from all walks of life, but there is a crisis here at home that could have even more far-reaching consequences.

We’re talking about the pending closure of three doctors’ practices by early December.

Yes, we agree the economic downturn (dare we say, recession?) has eroded pensions, investments and savings everywhere, but there is also veiled optimism in that most analysts suggest things can’t get much worse.

It may sound like a backhanded compliment, but any news that isn’t all bad is worth embracing. Indeed, the bottom line is the markets can only go up from here. With prudence and sufficient management, there’s a very good chance the country’s and people’s personal economic fortunes will improve.

The health care of citizens in this region, however, is a question mark. Not that we don’t have quality doctors here to do the job. On the contrary. Doctors in the Annapolis Valley are top-notch: they work long hours, have large caseloads and struggle mightily to meet a burgeoning demand.

The thing is, there aren’t enough of them. And with three GPs looking to pull in their respective shingles, an already taxed system is sure to become even more problematic.

We don’t know the exact number of patients each doctor has in his or her caseload, but we might posit that collectively they number in the thousands.

So when Drs. Barry, Burgess and Filopowitz close their practices next month, a slew of people won’t have a family physician.

More to the point, people who have relied greatly on their doctor to treat myriad illnesses will no longer have the security of knowing their health care needs will be met.

The fact no doctor in Kings County is accepting any new patients at the moment further compounds the difficulty and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.

How can they? Each manages a significant and increasing demand and with thousands more thrust into the mix, it’s unreasonable to expect any doctor who meets with patients, does rounds and participates otherwise in the health care system locally to absorb additional patients and responsibility.

What we need is a comprehensive plan to recruit doctors not only to Kings County, but rural Nova Scotia in general. The government has no choice but to react now to this crisis and move swiftly to mediate what will soon become an untenable situation.

We find it hard to believe that no doctors are out there. The question is whether they wish to establish a practice here and that’s where incentives, options and a substantial effort to sell our quality of life are required.

This region has lots to offer in terms of lifestyle and professional profile, but are health agencies and the province doing enough to push the obvious benefits and create an attractive package for relocation?

Clearly not. And with a dearth of doctors to meet the serious and mounting health care needs in the Annapolis Valley, there is concern and outright fear among those who are ill and need a physician’s care that the well is empty and they have been hung out to dry.