Carmichael’s departure leaves 1,950 people without doctor

Shirley Watson-Poole, recruiter for the South West Health Authority says there was a family physician in town just last week exploring Digby. She adds that two doctors who visited Digby in the June are still considering their options.

One of those is Dr. Willem Liebenberg, a 61 year-old B.C. physician who expressed an interest in practicing in Digby for the next four years.

“He has his house for sale and isn’t ready to make a decision until it sells,” says Watson-Poole.

She says Dr. Ahmed Swedan, who currently practices in Burin, Newfoundland, also visited Digby in June and expressed an interest in testing the waters by doing a locum in Digby

In June, Digby town council agreed to pool funds with the municipality should Dr. Swedan or Dr. Liebenberg choose Digby. This means each physician could receive $100,000 ($25,000 per year over four years) if he decides to set up a medical practice here.

Watson Poole says the South West Health Authority is also courting international doctors now eligible to practise in Canada and medical students who will be graduating in July 2009.

“They all sound very serious,” she says, “but none are yet prepared to make a final decision.”