'Extremely shorthanded:' P.E.I. lacks psychiatrists for ER care

Prince Edward Island doesn't haveadequate psychiatric care,thechief of mental health and addictionstold the province's health and wellness committee Tuesday.

Dr. HeatherKeizer's statementcame after recent news that only half the positions for psychiatrists are currently filled.

Keizer told the committee Tuesdaythere areonly one-thirdthe number of psychiatrists that should be available to work on-call in emergency rooms.

Instead of having 15 psychiatrists, there are fewer than five available to help patients who need that care.

Short handed

"Currently, we are in a trough," said Keizer. "We are very low inpsychiatrists on Prince Edward Island. Perhaps the lowest we've seen in a very long time."

Keizersaid that's placing "extraordinarily onerous" requirements on the doctors who do this work.

"I was on call yesterday and we had 10 patients in the emergency room, all of whom were complex," she said. "It wouldn't be uncommon for me to do on call and see between 15 and 20 patients."

Keizer said the shortagecould be leading to situations where a person who might have otherwise seen a psychiatrist isn't.

"We are extremely shorthanded and that job cannot be done by nurse practitioners nor can it be done bypsychologists."

This could include someone who turns up at an emergency roomwith plans to take their own life.

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Opposition Health Critic JamesAylwardsaid something has to be done before something badhappens.

"We need to be proactive now to ensure that we are protecting Islanders, particularlyindividualsthat might be expressing self harm or suicidal thoughts," he said. "It's far too serious an issue just to sweep it down the road."

Recruitment and retention

Aylwardsaid the province needs to look at how medical professionals are beingrecruited and retained as well.

"But at the end of the day, if you have an individual presenting with suicidal thoughts I think the medical profession, at the very least, needs to take those individuals in," saidAylward,adding they are then in a safe location until apsychiatrist can see them.

Keizersaid Health PEI is actively recruiting to fill those positions as well as positions forpsychologists.

The committee heard dozenof interviews have taken place, there have beensite visits, and effortsto recruit new graduatesright out of medical school.

A psychiatrist from England the province said would be here in August is held up awaiting a visa.

"We're working very hard and we've spent a lot of time developing acomprehensiveplanthat will service all Islanders,"Keizertold the committee.

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