St. Joseph’s Hospital has released the details on how it will handle anesthesiology services in the coming weeks.
Estevan’s lone practising anesthesiologist, Dr. Anthony Davies, will wind up his local practice on June 25 at noon, as he is relocating to Ontario. At that time, anesthesiology coverage will be on a locum basis in Estevan.
“We have made an arrangement with a group of anesthesiologists out of Prince Albert who, on a rotating basis, are going to cover us into the foreseeable future,” said Greg Hoffort, the CEO at the hospital.
There will not be a reduction or an interruption of services, he said.
“An interruption of anesthesiology services would be an interruption of obstetric service and an interruption of surgical services, so it’s critical to our operation,” said Hoffort. “We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to make arrangements with a group of anesthesiologists to cover us into the future.”
The hospital is in discussions with another anesthesiologist, with a potential start date of September.
Hoffort also announced that Dr. Mehdi Horri will resume a family practice at the hospital, starting on June 25. Horri has been unable to practise medicine in Saskatchewan since June 16, 2017, when the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons revoked his certificate of registration, stemming from an act of misconduct that happened when he was practising in Ontario. But he has been practising in Ontario since July of last year.
Horri was practising as an anesthesiologist before his certificate was revoked, but Hoffort said the college has not restored his licence for anesthesiology as of yet.
“He will just be focusing on family medicine,” said Hoffort.
Estevan has 10 practising family physicians and two specialists.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
