Sunrise Health Region has secured agreements with several doctors to provide physician coverage for Preeceville until a new resident doctor arrives in mid February.
“It was challenging to secure coverage for the time that Preeceville will be without a physician,” said Dr. Phillip Fourie, Sunrise’s senior medical officer. “I am very pleased with the work of our Sunrise Health Region recruitment team and thankful for the cooperation of the Saskatchewan Medical Association locum pool and physicians in other communities in our region.”
The agreements cover the period starting from December 24 until mid February.
The new arrangements for physician coverage at the medical clinic became necessary when Dr. Taofik Adedeji gave notice that he would no longer be practising medicine in Preeceville effective mid December. With his departure, it would essentially mean that Preeceville would be without a resident doctor until the arrival of a new doctor in February.
Preeceville has been experiencing a shortage of physician services since Dr. Tshipita Kabongo left in June. For primary care, Preeceville was left with only Dr. Adedeji and Dawn Kennedy, a nurse practitioner. Several locums have assisted providing physician services. The clinic continued to operate but it was necessary to reduce emergency services at the hospital. Starting July 6, Sunrise placed the Preeceville and District Health Centre on emergency bypass every other week.
With the change in primary health care staff, the public should be aware of the change to the hours of operation, said Sharon Tropin, Sunrise’s director of communications. “Barring unforeseen circumstances, the following arrangements are in place at the Preeceville and District Health Centre from December 24 to February 12.”
Weekday appointments are offered at the Preeceville clinic with either the locum physician or the nurse practitioner.
The emergency department at the Health Centre is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (Monday to Thursday). It closes at 5 p.m. and re-opens at 8 a.m. mornings.
On weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), the emergency department is open
continuously during daytime, evening and night time hours. It will be open on Thursday (December 31) which is New Year’s Eve.
No physician will be available for three days, December 21, 22 and 23, during which time there will be no acute inpatient or emergency department coverage. The emergency department will be closed December 21 at 8 a.m. and will re-open on December 24 at 8 a.m.
In an emergency, clients are asked to call 9-1-1 which will ensure that an ambulance quickly arrives to take the patient to the closest and most appropriate location for medical care, Tropin said.
Physician coverage has been arranged for hospital inpatients. Laboratory services and ambulance services will continue to be available in Preeceville throughout the physician shortage.
In addition to the physician who is to arrive in the community in mid February, the region is attempting to recruit a second physician for Preeceville, Tropin said.
Other health care services provided in Preeceville include: laboratory, X-ray, hospital, long-term care, respite, day wellness, home care, Telehealth, public health nursing and therapy services. Regional visiting services continue to be provided in Preeceville and include professionals from mental health and addictions services, a dietitian, an exercise therapist and the chronic disease management team.
If a client is uncertain whether emergent care is need, or if medical advice will suffice, the person can telephone 8-1-1 to reach Healthline anytime day or night. The registered nurses at Healthline will provide advice and will direct callers to the closest available emergency department, if needed.
