Wolseley, Grenfell lose ER services until 2018

Officials cite doctor shortage

A doctor shortage has prompted the suspension of emergency and walk-in outpatient services in Wolseley and Grenfell until February.

Acute in-patient and emergency services were suspended at Wolseley’s hospital Sept. 1 after one of the town’s two physicians left at the end of August.

“We cannot maintain acute emergency services with only one physician,” said Maggie Petrychyn, executive director of rural primary healthcare services with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.

A second physician is not expected to begin their practice in Grenfell and Wolseley until February.

A candidate is entering the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment program (SIPPA) this month, Petrychyn said.

The SIPPA program assesses the readiness of international medical graduates to practise medicine in Saskatchewan. If the program is successfully completed, a new physician is expected to begin serving Wolseley and Grenfell in February.

To date, the RQHR has exhausted all of its options in recruiting a locum, a physician who could provide temporary services.

“We met with the local community leaders in the middle of July once we had been notified by the physician that he’d be wrapping up his practice,” Petrychyn said. “As soon as we let the community leaders know, we started to try and find some locum coverage. We really tried our hardest to exhaust all options.”

Efforts to recruit a locum will continue, she said.

“There’s limited availability for locum coverage throughout the entire province,” Petrychyn said. “It’s challenging. It’s tough because they know if they come to a rural area that there is that expectation to provide call coverage and that support.”

Last week, the region sent out advisories to residents in Wolseley, Grenfell, Indian Head and the surrounding communities about changes to health care services and posted the information on its website.

In an emergency, Petrychyn advises residents to call 911.

“That is the best option to be able to get the most immediate and appropriate care and get you to those services that are available,” she said.

Acute care and emergency services continue to be available at Broadview and Indian Head hospitals.

The Indian Head hospital is about 20 minutes from Wolseley, and the Broadview Hospital is roughly a 30-minute drive. Patients are responsible for paying the cost of an ambulance to be transported to those centres.

For everyday health care needs, a physician or nurse practitioner staff primary health care clinics in Grenfell and Wolseley Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents should call their community clinic to make an appointment.

Lab and X-ray services are available by appointment at Grenfell Health Centre and Wolseley’s hospital on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Nurses in Grenfell are on site to perform prearranged treatments such as dressing changes and IV therapy.

Health advice and information about available health services can be accessed by calling Health Line at 811.