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Photo: Alberta Health Services
By Curtis Galbraith
Health

MLA Loewen says new physicians slated to come to Fairview, no word yet on McLennan

Jul 7, 2021 | 5:30 AM

Central Peace Notley MLA Todd Loewen says three new doctors have been found for Fairview.

“It’s good news to hear that we have some doctors coming into Fairview,” he told EverythingGP Tuesday.

“I’m not sure where exactly the three of them are coming (from) but I know at least one of them, I understand, was coming from the Beaverlodge area. (It is) unfortunate for Beaverlodge to lose a doctor but obviously good for Fairview to gain one. I believe they’ll be general practitioners.”

Loewen had written to Health Minister Tyler Shandro in late May asking about doctor shortages at the Fairview Health Complex. The emergency room has had to close several times because no doctor was available. The new physicians are expected to be in place between “now and fall” according to Loewen.

Loewen added that he calls the recent ER closures in his constituency unacceptable.

“When they are looking at rural doctors and rural hospitals, somebody is in an emergency, it can turn a one-hour ambulance ride into a two-hour ambulance ride to get to a hospital and, obviously, that’s not helpful in emergency situations.”

There is no word yet on securing new doctors for McLennan.

“They did have another doctor that I think just came in here just recently, just in the last few weeks, so that’s going to help a little bit. Of course, there is still going to be opportunity for hospital closures if they can’t get locums to cover when doctors have leaves of absence.”

Loewen says he is hoping to have the shortage in McLennan addressed as soon as possible.

He adds officials are also hoping to get some more nurses in Fairview.

This comes as other rural healthcare facilities in Alberta have had to either temporarily shutter emergency rooms or reduce bed spaces due to a shortage of physicians.

There are currently bed closures in Edson and St. Paul, and there have been intermittent emergency room closures in Boyle, Elk Point, Consort, and Rocky Mountain House.

by Curtis Galbraith