Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist
GASPÉ – Even though the Gaspé Peninsula receives an average of 10 to 15 family doctors each year as part of the Medical Staffing Plan for the Regions, the Gaspé Peninsula Integrated Health and Social Services Centres (CISSS) is struggling to make net gains. This year, Québec will be deploying nearly 500 doctors to the different regions of the province.
“We regularly manage to fill these positions. However, the allocation of positions does not guarantee an increase in staff, because it also includes replacements for departures either because of retirement or going to other regions,” explains the assistant director of the professional services department, Jean-François Sénéchal.
Over the past five years, more doctors have been trained. “But the end result is that we don’t see that things are much better than before. We manage to fill the departures. We remain stable,” notes Mr. Sénéchal.
Haute-Gaspésie has a significant need. Retirements in Rocher-Percé, Bay of Chaleur and Haute-Gaspésie are leading the CISSS to assign more doctors to these local health networks.
The situation for medical specialists remains stable. “Things are going very well in internal medicine, general surgery and anesthesia. The very good news is that we filled our positions in geriatrics during the year. We will have two geriatricians to cover the region’s needs starting this fall, something we have never experienced historically,” he states. The region has been requesting geriatricians for a long time, notably from the former Member of the National Assembly for Bonaventure, Sylvain Roy.
Orthopedics, ophthalmology and psychiatry are the three sectors where the CISSS wants to recruit in the short term. Chandler Hospital has struggled to fill radiologist positions. “Things have improved a lot. We have a radiologist who started in September, and we are also expecting a second radiologist in Rocher-Percé in the next two years,” says Mr. Sénéchal.
The Gaspé Peninsula CISSS has participated in several events organized by various medical associations to recruit medical students. “That’s where we make our most serious sales presentations to pique the curiosity of medical resident candidates who we will invite to visit us and who we will perhaps hook and recruit in the months that follow,” he explains.
The area’s natural beauty and lifestyle are highlighted to attract potential recruits. “Our environment, our living environment, is a very important selling point. These are often people who love the outdoors and their facility would allow them to flourish.” When we meet people, we praise our living environment and our surroundings and we see right away if they are interested. We will push these aspects of having family activities and starting a family in a healthy environment,” comments Mr. Sénéchal.
The versatility of practicing medicine in the Gaspé Peninsula also serves as an argument to attract them. Approximately 234 doctors currently work at the Gaspé Peninsula CISSS.