Sask. struggling to recruit and retain specialists, doctor says
Dr. Ana-Maria Bosonea is the only allergist in Saskatoon seeing children under 12, and now she’s moving to Alberta.
She said part of the reason for the move is her family’s struggle to find childcare for her infant twin boys.
“I think it’s a great place to raise a family, it’s just finding childcare is something that is a deterrent,” she said.
Another factor for Bosonea is the lack of pediatric specialists in the area. She said it’s been an added stressor for her and her colleagues, and worries that if her own children were to get sick, there wouldn’t be enough supports for them.
“My children are thankfully healthy so far, but you never know right, and so from a personal point of view that sucks, but also from a specialist point of view — what do you do for these families?”
The Ministry of Health told CTV News there are 14 pediatrician positions vacant in the province, including four and a half positions at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
Minister of Health Everett Hindley said the province is working to fill those positions.
“It’s my understanding from officials in the SHA, a number of those — I believe over half — are in the process of actually being filled. They have candidates who have applied for the position and they’re working on contract negations,” he said.
Hindley said the province is offering competitive salaries and benefits to recruit specialists.
But the NDP believes more needs to be done.
“The failure of this government to have an effective plan, not an ambitious plan, but an effective plan has meant that we are seeing service closures in communities right across the province,” NDP leader Carla Beck said.
Meanwhile Dr. Bosonea is set to start in Alberta on June 1 and said her current patients can still be referred to her, if needed.
“So I’ll probably still be seeing lots of Saskatchewan patients, I just don’t think it’s fair to the families to have to travel,” she said.
Bosonea said she wants to encourage patients to advocate for themselves and for improvements to the healthcare system.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.