Health minister confident deal will be reached to prevent mass resignations at St. Clare’s

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Health Minister, Krista Lynn Howell, addressed reporters on Friday regarding the impending resignation of a group of internal medicine doctors at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in St. John’s. While Howell expressed her disapproval of the doctors’ approach, she stated that a resolution is imminent.

The five internists had submitted a joint resignation letter citing concerns about the loss of the medical residency program at the hospital, which had resulted in a lack of 24/7 patient care coverage. Despite disagreeing with the tactics used by the doctors, Howell assured the public that negotiations were ongoing with the provincial health authority and the medical association to address the issues within the internal medicine department at St. Clare’s.

Although details of the plan were not disclosed during the press conference, Howell emphasized that discussions with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) were progressing positively. The doctors’ legal representative, Kyle Rees, expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations, highlighting the seriousness with which all parties were approaching the situation.

This recent resignation threat was not the first time the internists had raised concerns about their working conditions. In a letter dated January 1, 2024, the doctors had warned of withholding services due to administrative burden, limited resources, overwhelming patient load, and below-average compensation. While this previous letter did not result in any job action, three of the five signatories have since left their positions at St. Clare’s.

Barry Petten, the Progressive Conservative health critic, criticized the government for not taking action sooner to address the doctors’ grievances. He highlighted that the doctors had reached out to multiple health ministers in the past, including Premier John Hogan, without any resolution. Howell acknowledged that discussions had been ongoing for several months but were complicated by the recent decision to terminate the residency program at St. Clare’s due to concerns about supervision and support for residents.

Memorial University, which oversees the residency program, cited the lack of adequate support and supervision as the reason for discontinuing the program. Despite this setback, Howell expressed hope that the residency program could be reinstated in the future, emphasizing its importance for the hospital.

In conclusion, while the situation at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital remains uncertain, all parties involved are actively engaged in finding a resolution to ensure the continuity of internal medicine services for patients in St. John’s. The ongoing negotiations underscore the critical need for collaboration and communication to address the challenges facing healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador.