Opposition urges government to improve access to health care for rural P.E.I.
CBC
The Official Opposition says government needs to do more to make sure Islanders in rural communities have access to adequate health care — especially as the province plans to close its COVID-19 cough and fever clinics.
Green MLA Trish Altass raised the issue during question period Tuesday. On Monday, Health P.E.I. announced it will close its two cough and fever clinics in Charlottetown and Slemon Park at the end of March.
Once those clinics close, routine care for Islanders with respiratory illness will now transition back to family physician offices and walk-in clinics, a written release said.
Altass said when she heard the clinics would be closing, she checked to see when the walk-in clinic in Summerside would be holding clinics — only to discover there aren't any scheduled for this week.
"How are folks in the Summerside area supposed to take your advice and go to a walk-in clinic when needed if the walk-in clinic isn't even open?" Altass said.
Health Minister Ernie Hudson said the decision to close the cough and fever clinic was made by physicians who feel now is the right time to do so, and he has confidence in that decision.
Altass said closures and a lack of physician coverage at the Summerside walk-in clinic are not a new problem and one government hasn't been able to address in years. She said it's a consistent problem in rural communities on P.E.I., including those within Hudson's district, which is home to the Western Hospital in Alberton.
Western Hospital's collaborative emergency centre was closed for the night on Friday due to a temporary lack of staffing. The hospital has been plagued by staff shortages and has had to shut down its emergency centre multiple times in recent months.
"Are you asking our constituents to drive to Charlottetown to receive basic health care?" Altass asked.
Hudson said this year's budget allows for more staff to address coverage issues at Western Hospital.
"There are an additional 5.1 FTE nursing positions at Western Hospital. So maybe the opposition, if they want us to get moving forward on these initatives, should look at passing the budget," Hudson said.
Green MLA Michele Beaton also had questions for Hudson about what efforts have been made to create more walk-in clinic hours, and make sure those clinics have enough staff to stay open.
"Has there been an increase in family physicians and walk-in hours anywhere in this province that you haven't shared with Islanders?" Beaton said.
"Rural Islanders are being underserved for heath care, which is starting to look like the norm," she said. "How can you justify the lack of access to health-care services in rural P.E.I.?"
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