Rural N.L. doctor turnover flagged

A study indicates that shortage of physicians in rural Newfoundland and Labrador are going to become more pronounced.

The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada found that14 per cent of the country's rural physicians plan to move to another location within the next two years.

While that may not sound like a lot, society president Dr. John Wooton said the problem is particularly acute in smaller and more remote towns.

"The reality is that many rural communities have even a higher turnover than the one reported in the study. What's worrisome is that's the average across the country," he told CBC News.

Although nearly half of the 1,048 physicians on the public roster in Newfoundland and Labrador work outside the province's cities, shortages have become pronounced, even in larger towns. In Gander, a lottery was held in 2008 to fill the patient roster at a local clinic that was able to recruit two new doctors.

"It's certainly not easy going," said Dr. Jody Woolfrey, a 13-year veteran of family medicine who runs a hectic practice in the central Newfoundland town of Botwood.

"There aren't any specialists in the smaller, remote, rural communities so we have to be jacks of all trades."

While he has no regrets about his choice of practice, he said a rural practice isn't for the faint of heart. He has seen 23 colleagues come and go, usually moving on to larger cities.

"I don't judge those who have moved on to other jurisdictions," Woolfrey said.