LETTER

 

---- No new docs?

 

I am surprised by Mr Paquette's problems with finding a new family doctor after his long-time doctor retired (Bulletin letters, June 7, 2021). Not that people don't have to wait a long time to find a doctor who fits, but it seems the usual practice is that a retiring doctor will pass on his files to another physician, or at least give the patients a list of doctors who are still taking patients.  My own MD has told me he plans to retire in five years. This gives me plenty of time to seek out and meet possible replacements.  My MD also said he would transfer me to another doctor who is taking patients, if I don't want to do the search myself.

That doesn't seem like a bad deal to me -- both for the patient and for pressures on working docs. 

I wonder about how proactive people are who find themselves in these difficult situations; they didn't see this coming?  

And, yes, I do agree with Mr Paquette that the province's system of a waiting list is pretty disfunctional and un-creative for such a serious problem, especially here in Gatineau.

William Simmons

Aylmer