Doctors pressure N.L. gov't to deal with health-care backlog, as patients lose faith

For the second time in just over a week, the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association is calling on the province's healthminister to release a plan to deal with the backlog in the healthcare system, as patients echo the doctor's frustrations.

NLMA president Dr. Charlene Fitzgerald said doctors want a plan from the province, by specialty, to deal with the long wait list of patients.

She said Health Minister John Haggie told them the system would be operating at 85 per cent capacity as of Monday.

But Fitzgerald said they're not even close.

"Orthopedic surgery is operating at 50 to 60 per centin Eastern [Health]. Neurosurgery is operating at 60 to 70 per cent," she said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

What's worse, she said, is that many of the province's health authorities are moving into a summer slowdown schedule, which means capacity will be further reduced to about 65 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels.

She says she believesthe health system will remain well below Haggie's 85 per cent target until at least September.

The health-caresystem would have to operate at more than 100 per cent capacity to reduce the backlog of patients, she said, and until then wait lists will grow longer.

In the meantime, Fitzgerald seesanother problem brewing.

"I think the most pressing deficiency is the relationships." she said.

Fitzgerald said doctors found out the health system was increasing its capacity two weeks in advance. She said there's little information sharing between the health department, the health authorities, doctors and patients.

I have no faith in the systemwhatsoever.- Sandra Troke

"This lack of transparency is affecting everyone," she said.

"Every day in this shutdown, physicians and patients are scrambling to find out what's happening today, how do I get this done, how do I advocate for my patient, where should they go?" said Fitzgerald.

Patients suffering

Sandra Trokeof Clarenville is one of those patients who have been trying to navigate the backed-up health-care system.

She needs a hip replacement to deal withtorn cartilage in her hip. The surgery was promised in 2019, but hasn't happened.

Her joint assessment appointments in March, needed prior to her surgery being scheduled, were cancelled due to COVID-19.

Thelimbois affecting her everyday life.

"I'm not working.I can't do any of the activities that I enjoy like hiking or walking."

Troke saidshe's had a hard time getting information about when her surgery will be, calling the doctor's office multiple times to try and get answers.

"I have no faith in the system, whatsoever," she said.

• While N.L. starts tackling its surgery backlog, a Summerford man fears he won't make it

The longer she waits, the worse her hip gets.The situation is also affecting her mental health, something she said she has never struggled with before.

"I feel like you're only a number, and I get full of anxiety and I've been depressed," she told CBC.

No shows rampant

Troke isn't alone, according to the NLMA,and many patients are getting sicker as they wait.

Cardiologist Fred Paulin saidconstraints in waiting rooms means he and other doctors can see fewer patients in clinics.

Many patients,fearing COVID-19, aren't showing up to appointments, he said, slowing things down even more.

"I had, last week, about 50 per cent no show rates in my clinic," said Dr. Paulin.

• N.L. doctors association accuses province of being too slow to resume health-care services

Meanwhile, Tony Wakeham, opposition MHA and the former head of Labrador-Grenfell Health, saidit's time for the government to release a plan and communicate with doctors and their patients.

"This is not going to happen overnight.It's going to take a series of weeks, and god forbid months, to get back to normal."

"It's time for the minister of healthto pick up the phone, call the president of the NLMA, and sit down, yes, physically distance, but sit downand work this out," said Wakeham.

Haggie wasn't available for an interview to respond to the doctor's concerns.

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