Patient calls for new rules after family doctor retires without notice

A Halifax woman whose family doctor abruptly retired is wondering why there aren't stricter guidelines in place to governhow doctors informpatients that they are winding up their practices.

Deirdre Floyd last saw her family doctor, Dr. Enver Deliu, on Aug.29. He issued her a new prescriptionand told her to return in a few months to see if it was working.

When she called back last week, the clinic's voicemail announced that Deliuand his wife, Dr. Zivic-Deliu, both retired in September.

Floyd isbaffled by the way their departure was handled.

"Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with doctors retiring. They have to at some point," she said. "What bothers me is that there wasn't any indication he was going to retire when I was in on Aug.29."

'So sudden, so abrupt'

A voicemail at the clinic apologizes for the short notice and not sending out notices to all patients.

Floyd, who has epilepsy, said for patients with chronic illnesses, continuing care is critical.

"This was so sudden, so abrupt.I would hate to see it happen to anybody else," she said.

Existing guidelines for informing patients

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia has guidelines for leaving a practice, including telling doctors to inform patients that they're going as soon as they make the decision.

It suggests telling them in person, by phoneor through sending letters.

However, the guidelinesdonot have a mandatory minimum notice, which is something Floyd saidwould be helpful for patients.

"There may have been a legitimate reason for him leaving his practice.I have no idea," she said. "Protection should be there for the patients."

Floyd saidthe college did tell her she could file a formal complaint, but she questions what good that would do since her physician is no longer practising.

Large wait list for family doctors

She thinks the college or the province should be responsible for finding temporary coverage for patients affected by situations like hers, and she doesn't want to be simply added to the family doctor wait-list. In July, the list had more than 33,000 names on it, up from 25,000 in March.

The voicemail at the clinic says the Delius'patients will be seen by anotherdoctor at the clinic. It then gives a fax number as the point of contact.

Floyd said she triedto set up an appointment with that physician, buthasn't heard back in a week and a half.

CBCNews also tried to fax the clinic, but received no response.