Psychiatrists decry wait times

Psychiatrists say patients in Newfoundland and Labrador are waiting far too long for professional help, if they can get it at all.

"Currently if you're not an emergency or an urgent case you will wait14 to16 months to be seen," Dr. Kim St. John, a child psychiatrist at the Janeway children's hospital in St. John's, told a news conference.

St. John and two colleagues addressed reporters in the latest public relations volley by the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, which has been campaigning for a new contract for its more than 1,100 members.

The province has far fewer psychiatrists than it should, compared with national ratios for adult and child psychiatric services. Half of the psychiatric positions in rural Newfoundland and Labrador are unfilled, and Labrador and the Northern Peninsula have no psychiatrists at all.

Even in St. John's, where most psychiatrists in the province work, there are significant problems with workload.

Dr. Cynthia Slade, who finished her training three years ago, told reporters that her husband regularly asks her why she is practising in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"He says, 'Why are we here? And why aren't we moving? We could go somewhere else and you could feel respected,' and I come home many days and I don't," Slade said.

Figures released by the NLMA onThursday show the median wait time for referrals for psychiatric care from general practitionersis the longest in the country. A patient typically waits 21.5 weeks, or 11.7 weeks longer than the national average.

Meanwhile, the psychiatrists defended the NLMA, which has come in for sharp criticism from Premier Danny Williams. On Tuesday, Williams read part of a critical letter by plastic surgeon Dr. David Jewer, who said many surgeons in the province do not like how the NLMA operates.

"The NLMA negotiates for me. I feel confident in their ability to negotiate for me," Slade said.

St. John said there is always disagreement in every profession and organization, and that the NLMA is no different.

"Just as we have a government that was voted in with the most votes doesn't mean that we all agree with them at the end of the day," she said.

The psychiatrists arethe latest professional group to speak out on behalf of the NLMA's campaign.Previous groups have included family doctors and internists.