O’Leary-Inverness Liberal MLA Robert Henderson says the crisis in the healthcare system needs to be addressed.
Henderson says there are nearly 25-thousand Islanders without a primary care provider and he believes that number is more like 30-thousand. He says 18% of the population have no family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Henderson says there are 103 nursing vacancies in the system right now with 285 nurses eligible to retire but not enough is being done to bring in new graduates or recruits into healthcare.
The former health minister says 200 Islanders are waiting for long-term care beds but 85 beds have been closed due to staff shortages.
He wants to see bolder steps taken in recruitment and retention incentives with health care professionals leaving at alarming rates.
Henderson says – quote – “ I am calling PEI’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Ernie Hudson, to come out of hiding and outline a plan with short term actions on how this government is going to keep our health care system afloat”.
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