Walk-in clinic closes doors due to doctor shortage

In western Prince Edward Island, a weekly walk-in clinic has been forced to shut down until at least the the end of this year.

The Beechwood Community Health Centre in O'Leary has been open on Wednesday nights for about the past six months, attracting about 20 patients a week.

According to acting manager Cheryl Doran there simply aren't enough doctors in the area to staff the evening clinic and emergency rooms.

The clinic had to suspend its services a couple of times earlier, just because the physicians have already been working long hours.

"We just don't have the manpower to keep the emergency rooms running as the physicians are trying to cover a call there and do the evening clinic as well," said Doran.

Doran further said that the staff will reassess the situation in January, but another doctor will be required in the area for the clinic to reopen.

CBC

"I think it's time to relocate one or two healthcare professionals"