Vitalit Health Network losing two oncology specialists in July

The Vitalit Health Network is losing two oncology specialists at the end of July.

The specialists are both from the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton.

Dr. France Desrosiers, president and CEO of Vitalit, said about 775 patients are affected.

The names of the two doctors have not been released. But Desrosiers said patients who are affected will be contacted in a few days or a few weeks, according to the degree of urgency. Some patients have already been contacted.

Desrosiers said the network is working to make sure patient care is not disrupted.

She said the team is going to review all the patient files in a short period with current specialiststo determine who the best care provider is to match them with.

"No matter who their specialist was, they will be contacted in the coming days, in the coming weeks and we'll communicate the name of the new professional who will take care of them," Desrosiersaid in an interview Monday in French.

Dr. Mark MacMillan, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, said in a statementthe loss of the two doctors is "a concerning development"and "speaks to the importance of recruiting and retaining physicians."

"[We]will collaborate with Vitalit and the Department of Health to seek new candidates for these vacancies, and to address the short-term challenges the loss of these specialists will present to the hospital's oncology department," reads the statement.

Vitalit has family doctors whospecialize in oncology at the Dumont and four satellite centres Edmundston, Campbellton, Bathurst andCaraquet. They all work in teams.

Some patients, depending on their situation, will be redirected to their local satellite location.

Others will be seen by another specialist at the Dumont, according to their treatments.

Other options being considered

Vitalit is also looking at possible collaboration with other oncology centresthat could look after certain patients without the quality or nature of their care being affected.

Horizon Network is one option.

"Horizon and Vitalit have had preliminary discussions around this matter and we are mutually committed to remaining closely engaged as the situation develops," Greg Doiron, vice-president clinical operations at Horizon,said in an email.

"We are hopeful that by working together, we will be able to come up with creative solutions which will help mitigate any impact on oncology patients who receive care from these two specialists."

The network also plans to intensify efforts to recruit new specialists.

"We're always in active recruitment for the oncology department, because it's a department that is very active,"Desrosiers said.

"The demand for oncology treatment, oncology diagnosis is growing and we're projecting it will also grow in the coming years.