Two Lethbridge family doctors shuttering practices at Campbell Clinic South
Thousands more Lethbridge residents will soon be without a family doctor.
Two physicians at Campbell Clinic South recently told their patients they are shutting down their practices.
One of the doctors leaving says she's been considering the move for several years.
"A very challenging relationship with government at the moment. Going back to our last negotiations with them, there's been this sensation of lots of bad-faith arguments," said Dr. Jessica van der Sloot, whose practice will shut down at the end of the year.
Van der Sloot is moving to B.C., which will leave about 2,000 people without a doctor.
She says her biggest reason for leaving is the current funding model for family physicians.
According to van der Sloot, Alberta physicians are now some of the least paid in Canada.
"This feeling that we are kind of just being put to the side or ignored, that our concerns are not really being heard in a meaningful way. Or maybe they are being heard. They're just not being acted upon, which is worse, it feels like," she said.
The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) says a new funding model for physicians has already been drawn up.
While the AMA is ready to sign, it claims the province is dragging its feet.
The province says its deal with physicians is nearly done.
It's estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 Albertans currently do not have a family doctor.
"The minister made a promise that by September, there would be a new compensation model in place. That deal is ready to go. The government refuses to sign and fund it. And doctors are saying, OK, then we're out. We're not waiting any longer," said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
Physician retention is a particularly big issue in rural communities.
Several rural medical centres have also been hit by temporary closures due to a lack of staffing.
"It's important to understand that it isn't emergency physicians who are covering those emergency departments, those hospitals. Those hospitals are run by the local doctors. They run the hospitals, they deliver babies, they have a practice as well," said AMA president Shelley Duggan.
Currently, there are no physicians in Lethbridge accepting new patients.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida
The 'extremely dangerous Category 3 hurricane' has made landfall near Siesta Key, Fla., according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.
'We want things to go forward': Bloc leader hints his party 'might' help end House impasse
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois says his party 'might play a role' in helping the Liberals get House of Commons business rolling again — after days of Conservative-led debate on a privilege matter — but that his assistance would come at a cost.
video Why are there cars in the Detroit River?
Dozens of cars were pulled out of the Detroit River in west Windsor on Tuesday, causing many questions for Windsorites.
Washington state woman calls 911 after being hounded by up to 100 raccoons
Sheriff's deputies in Washington's Kitsap County frequently get calls about animals -- loose livestock, problem dogs. But the 911 call they received recently from a woman being hounded by dozens of raccoons swarming her home near Poulsbo stood out.
Pilot dies aboard Turkish Airlines flight, forcing emergency landing in New York
A Turkish Airlines jetliner headed from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday after the captain died on board, an airline official said.
Former CIA director says Israel 'unlikely' to target Iranian nuclear sites as retaliation
Former CIA Director and retired Gen. David Petraeus says it is 'unlikely' Israel will target Iranian nuclear sites in retaliation for last week's ballistic missile attack.
Rare Monet returned to family more than 80 years after it was stolen by Nazis
A Claude Monet pastel painting stolen by Nazis during World War II, which vanished for decades only to show up with a Louisiana art dealer, was returned Wednesday in New Orleans to the descendants of its original owners.
Women say they were kicked off of Spirit Airlines flight for what they were wearing
Two Orange County women are speaking out after they say they were kicked off of a Spirit Airlines flight because of what they were wearing.