Hospital staffing crisis sparks huge rally in Grand Falls-Windsor
04.07.2008 00:04
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
More than 1,000 people turned out in Grand Falls-Windsor Thursday afternoon to draw attention to a staffing crisis at the town's hospital, but provincial Health Minister Ross Wiseman was not among them. The crowd sprawled across a huge lawn surrounding the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre, listening as mayors, union activists and citizens delivered speeches with the message that the province needs to do more to recruit and retain doctors, who are leaving due to overwork. Wiseman was in town, meeting with the Central Regional Integrated Health Authority and the chamber of commerce. He was invited by organizers, but did not attend the rally. Steve Parsons, the only obstetrician-gynecologist in Grand Falls-Windsor, told the crowd about a recent stretch of work. He said that after working around the clock for four straight days, he was called on to deliver a baby in distress. Parsons said he was physically and emotionally drained that night, but there was no one to turn to for help. "The baby's head was delivered and then the rest of the body just didn't want to come … I had to muster every bit of strength in my body to be able to get that baby delivered safely," he said. "I'm here by myself. How can I call on someone from Gander to come an hour away and help me?" In May, Central Health announced it would alternate obstetrical services this summer between Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander, 90 kilometres away. The announcement came after two of the region's four obstetrician-gynecologists gave notice that they were leaving. The region lost its only ear, nose and throat specialist in May as well. The authority oversees both the Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor hospitals, as well as dozens of clinics, health centres and long-term care facilities throughout central Newfoundland. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksHealth-care rally in Grand Falls-Windsor expected to draw thousandsHealth HeadlinesCutting calories could lengthen your life, research showsCutting the number of calories you eat every day could prolong your life, suggests a new study.First Canadian case linked to U.S. salmonella outbreakHealth officials have discovered the first Canadian case linked to a massive salmonella outbreak in the United States that has sickened more than 900 people.ADHD drug linked to suicide attempts: Health CanadaA drug commonly used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) disorder in children, teens and adults has been linked to numerous adverse reactions, including suicide attempts, Health Canada has warned.Wine compound may reduce effects of aging: new researchA compound in red wine may slow some of the ravages of aging, reducing bone loss, the formation of cataracts and balance problems, and improving liver and muscle function, new research suggests. Track fruits and veggies from farm to store, consumer groups urgeConsumer groups are calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to introduce a new tracking program while investigators continue looking into a salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 887 people in the U.S. Health FeaturesIN DEPTHDrug-resistant TBAnatomy of a killer
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