P.E.I.'s family doctor shortage leaves senior in limbo

A 70-year-old man and his wife say they felt abandoned when they were discharged from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital because they didn't have a doctor to follow up with.

Arch Wilson of Howe Bay, P.E.I., was discharged from the QEH last month after being treated for pain in his leg from falling down six steps. He was given a prescription for morphine and instructions to see a family doctor again soon.

The problem is, the couple doesn't have a family doctor.

• Couple wants changes to emergency care outside P.E.I. hospital

Wilson's wife, Sherry, said the clinic in Souris said it would be 10 days before her husband could see a doctor.

"I said, 'Well by that time, he will have run out of his painkillers. I'd like a prescription, I'm worried about his blood pressure, his feet were swelling up, his legs.' I just needed him to see somebody, but I got absolutely nowhere," she said.

Only certain walk-in clinics will prescribe narcotics, which made things more complicated for the couple.
The pair was eventually able to make an appointment with a doctor in Charlottetown who offered to see Arch.
But they spent the weekend combining what was left of Arch's morphine with whatever they could buy over-the-counter.

"We just kept mixing a concoction of drugs to keep the pain away," Sherry said.

Marilyn Barrett, director of Primary Care for Health PEI,said it's unfortunate that for those without a family doctor, fewer treatment options exist after being discharged from the hospital.

"If you don't have a family physician or nurse practitioner, then you would have to visit a walk-in clinic or an emergency room," she said.

Barrett said efforts are underway to recruit more doctors to the Island, and advises anyone without a family doctor to make sure they are on the patient registry.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | P.E.I. doctor questions relevance of publishing names with salaries
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | P.E.I. first responders may get more PTSD support