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Two specialists are leaving the Dumont Hospital in late July and Vitalité Health Network is reassuring oncology patients that it has contingency plans.
The health network is also affirming that the quality of care will be maintained.
“We understand that this situation may be concerning to patients and their loved ones, but we wish to reassure them that their health is our greatest priority. Every effort is being made to prevent any patient from finding themselves without physician care or having their treatment disrupted, and we can confirm that the continuity of care of all oncology patients at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC is being maintained,” stated Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of Vitalité Health Network.
Officials say family physicians practicing oncology in satellite sites have been mobilized to help lighten the workload.
Efforts are underway to prioritize which patients could be treated by their family physician or an oncologist.
Vitalité is also looking at collaborating with other oncology centres.
The health network has intensified the recruitment of new specialists but admits this initiative can’t be counted on to meet needs in the short term.
Patients directly affected by the departing specialists will be contacted soon.
