SPRINGDALE, N.L. — Central Health appears to have no immediate concerns about the number of family doctors available in Springdale for residents of the town and surrounding areas.
The issue was raised during recent public meetings by the Springdale Town Council as they discussed the retirement of long-time local physician Dr. Frank Hicks.
Hicks has retired from practice at the Green Bay Medical Centre and is no longer seeing patients. However, his patients can still see one of the remaining four fee-for-service physicians employed there by Central Health, unless they have chosen alternate arrangements.
The Nor’wester requested an interview with a representative of Central Health to discuss the situation, but one was not granted. An emailed statement was issued.
“Waitlists for family physicians will be monitored by the physician group to determine whether an additional family physician is needed to meet the health service needs in the community,” according to the statement.
At the May 22 public meeting of council, it was noted Jason Sparkes, the town’s chief administrative officer (CAO), would arrange a meeting with Central Health board members to discuss physician recruitment and retention. However, as of June 20, a Central Health spokesperson said she was not aware of any formal meeting request. She said the organization is receptive to meeting with municipal leaders about health care services and programs.
During the April 9 public meeting of council, Mayor Dave Edison advised council of Hicks’ impending retirement. Sparkes was expected to write a letter to Hicks thanking the physician for his years of services. Council also requested to have the CAO contact its representative of Central Health to discuss their plans for replacement.
Rick LeDrew, a Central Health board trustee from Springdale, said he has been speaking with Sparkes regarding the concerns expressed by council. He said it is a matter to be dealt with by the senior leadership team at Central Health, and has contacted them on behalf of the town to relay their concerns and desire for a meeting. He also said management are receptive to such a meeting.
Other than the concerns from council, LeDrew said he has not heard of issues with family doctor availability or any perceived shortages from people of the area. If there are concerns, he encourages people to contact Central Health or himself as their board representative.
In the meantime, he is satisfied with the way Central Health is addressing the retirement of Hicks and the availability of family physicians in the community.
“It is satisfactory in the sense they are monitoring it and they are going to judge it as they keep monitoring it,” LeDrew said. “I would think the staff at the clinic and the doctors would be able to determine if there is enough capacity there take the rest of the patients.”
The Nor’wester contacted the mayor numerous times in recent weeks to discuss the doctor situation in the town and any concerns council has. The mayor did not return any messages as of deadline.
The Nor’wester also attempted to contact Hicks numerous times in recent weeks for an interview on his retirement and career. Messages left for him went unreturned.
