Emotions run high after Cumberland County doctor threatens to quit

People living in Nova Scotia's Cumberland County say they'll hold a rally Wednesday outside the regional hospital in Amherst, after a longtime physician threatened to quit over his working conditions.

Dr. Brian Ferguson has worked in the area for more than three decades. He has a caseload of 3,000 patients and does shifts in the emergency department.

"We have three surgeons," he said. "One of them, God love her, she came back off maternity leave early to be working every second day. That's pretty tough for three to four months at a time. We're down to one internist."

Ferguson is demanding the provincial government listen, and on Tuesday he was offered a meeting with Health Minister Randy Delorey.

But he declined.

He said he'll only talk to Delorey after Wednesday's rally at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.

"You can only flog so many people for so long," Ferguson said. "And eventually they get up and leave, or they retire, or they quit."

Ferguson has a list of concerns, including recruitment efforts and pay scales. He's so riled up, he's worried about his own health.

"You can't expect me, bitter as I am, to watch this ship sink and die doing it."

Cumberland County is part of the Nova Scotia Health Authority's northern zone. It's a region identified as one that needs extra help.

Between April and June, the health authority did not recruit any physicians to the area. A second physician recruiter has just been hired and is now on the ground, trying to help fill the gaps.

"We've been listening," said Delorey. "We've been making changes. But the impact of those changes won't happen instantly."

Delorey points to the addition of the recruiter, the increase in doctor pay, and the creation of new residency spots in the province. Two of those placements will be in Cumberland County. Residency can make a significant difference in long-term recruitment of physicians.

"One of the things I have noticed though as well in the last year is not all people agree on all changes that get made," he said. "But we do listen. When we think the proposals coming forward will be beneficial, we made those policy changes and move forward."

Delorey said they're also trying to recruit new nurse practioners and family practice nurses for the area. 

"I don't think those of us that do have a primary care provider can appreciate truly what the stressors are on those individuals — particularly individuals that may have chronic illnesses — face when they don't have a primary care physician."

But people who live in the area say they're not seeing the work the province says is underway.

"We're just in a real crisis situation," said Don Tabor, a resident of Springhill. "Nobody is listening to us. Nobody is giving us our fair shake."

On Monday, Tabor said he joined dozens of people outside the hospital in Springhill.

He plans to attend a second demonstration on Wednesday afternoon. The protesters, like many living in rural areas of the province, are worried about frequent emergency department closures and the loss of services because of the doctor shortage.

"They've got to try and get more doctors here," Tabor said.

"They've got to start using the doctors more humanely. Those guys and girls, they're working their guts out trying to keep what we do have now."

Amherst mayor weighs in

On Wednesday afternoon, Amherst Mayor David Kogon released a three-page statement on behalf of the town that said council was "very concerned" about the delivery of health care at the Cumberland Regional Health Centre and throughout the county.

In the statement, the mayor called on Delorey to respond to the concerns voiced at the rallies.

While health care is a provincial responsibility, Kogon said the town believes action is required immediately — especially for those who can't afford to travel to other parts of the province for health care.

Kogon and members of council are part of a task force to recruit more doctors to the area.