The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has been working hard to recruit physicians to vacancies in the Weyburn area. The departure of a number of physicians over the past year had led to challenges in maintaining clinical services.
Recruitment conversations are currently taking place with a number of physicians who are interested in the Weyburn opportunities. There are currently 28 physicians undergoing the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) and if successful two are expected to start practice in Weyburn in late January, 2021.
In the short term the SHA is utilizing locum providers when they are able to secure their services.
“I would really like to thank the local teams for their commitment and extraordinary effort while we continue to recruit, said Dr. Kevin Wasko, SHA Physician Executive with Integrated Rural Health. “In addition, we thank the public for their understanding. We understand the concern if you do not have access to a provider.”
If you are not able to access services in the community of Weyburn for the interim, the SHA encourages people to consider seeing a provider in a surrounding community while they work through this physician shortage.
For community members who are looking for a family physician, please refer to the SHA website section on “physicians accepting new patients”, or contact the Weyburn Primary Health Care Clinic at 306-842-5404.
The SHA would like to remind the public that the Primary Care Clinic continues to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic with both in-person and phone-in appointments available.
