Last week it appeared as if Estevan was going to be left with just six physicians to serve the city and the surrounding area once fall arrived, but now it seems, help may be on the way.
The Sun Country Health Region's acting chief executive officer, Marga Cugnet informed The Mercury that at least two and perhaps as many as five doctors are expressing an interest in coming to the Energy City. The two physicians who have been recruited by the region are scheduled to undergo the assessment process in September which will be combined with a three-week evaluation process and then some practicum work that will allow them to set up a practice in the city.
"The Saskatchewan Immigrant Physician Practice Program that they'll be working under can be a faster track than the previous routine that had to be followed to gain credentials," said Cugnet.
Three more doctors, all candidates from an overseas physician recruitment effort, could be following soon after.
Cugnet said the two new arrivals will take some of the pressure off the existing physician base in Estevan since Dr. Di Naidu is not scheduled to leave until the end of September. The CEO admitted that while some natural births will still be carried out at St. Joseph's Hospital, without a supply of doctors who can administer anesthetics, procedures such as caesarean sections or other birth plans that require a back-up physician will be referred to Regina once Naidu leaves in late September.
Ironically, during the same conversation it was revealed that the ultrasound equipment, which is most often used to assist with assessments during a pregnancy, will be re-installed at St. Joseph's in the near future. Cugnet said that communication with Regina Radiology Associates, who will be responsible for providing the imaging service, revealed that the machine that will be used in Estevan has been selected and a meeting with the radiology associates has been arranged so that the service can be restored soon.
St. Joseph's has been without ultrasound imaging service for about four years.
