CBC Prince Edward Island - Features - Is There a Doctor in the House?

Is There a Doctor in the House?

CBC Prince Edward Island | Mar. 13, 2006

Souris Hospital
Emergency entrance

It seems in Prince Edward Island the problems with the health care system are cascading. A shortage of doctors leads to a closing of emergency departments and shorter hours at local clinics. With hospitals and clinics struggling to operate the question has to be asked, just how badly are they needed?

The discussion turns to efficient delivery of health care, but when you're sick you don't want to hear about efficiency. You just want to know you're going to be well-cared for.

An aging population and new technologies are making health care delivery more expensive. CBC Charlottetown has taken a hard look at some of the questions facing Prince Edward Island as it tries to build a health system for the 21st century.

A series of radio and television features culminated in a pubic forum on March 14.

CBC Public Forum Features

From CBC Radio

Panelists: Health Minister Chester Gillan,
Medical Society President Dr. Herb
Dickieson, Dr. Billy Scantlebury
and Dr. Pauline Champion

Three panelists, Health Minister Chester Gillan, Dr. Herb Dickieson and Dr. Pauline Champion discuss whether seven hospitals is too many for P.E.I. (runs 8:07)

The panel discusses the shortage of family doctors on P.E.I., starting with Dr. Herb Dickieson (runs 6:57)

Two first-year medical students from P.E.I. ask some hard questions about why they should practice medicine on the Island.
(runs 5:44)

From CBC Television

The panel discusses whether it is possible for P.E.I. to afford the health care system it would like to have?
(runs 8:11)

The panel fields questions about the shortage of doctors on P.E.I., what the province is doing about it and what it should be doing. (runs 8:58)

The public forum addresses the overall strategy for the future of health care on Prince Edward Island.
(runs 12:12)