Future family doctors felt insulted after recruitment session with health minister: open letter

The Newfoundland and Labrador College of Family Physicians says potential family doctors were left feeling frustrated and disrespected after attending a virtual retention and recruitment session by the province's Department of Health.

In an open letter to Premier Andrew Furey, the group said department representatives — including Health Minister John Haggie — gave a 90-minute presentation that lacked specific information and left potential recruits feeling "insulted" for asking questions. 

Additionally, according to the association, residents said it seemed as if they were being "scolded" by the health minister during his remarks.

"It would be a gross understatement to describe this recruitment session as an unmitigated disaster," reads the letter.

The session, which took place Nov. 24, involved about 70 future family physicians, and the NLCFP says it fielded numerous complaints from the potential recruits about their dissatisfaction with the department recruitment team.

In a statement in response to the letter, Haggie said he attended the first five minutes of the session and then had to leave.

"It is unfortunate that those in attendance felt frustrated and dissatisfied," he said.

Haggie said he's offered to discuss questions and concerns with the residents. The group has asked to meet with Furey, and Haggie said the premier plans to do so.

The crux of the letter rests on the family physician shortage in Newfoundland and Labrador.

According to the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, which is in the midst of contract negotiations with the government, nearly 100,000 residents in the province do not have a family doctor.

The letter states that "significant harm" was done to the relationship between family physicians and the provincial government as a result of the letter. The NLCFP is asking for action to improve physician recruitment.

The group says residents also felt insulted by unsatisfactory responses to questions they asked the Newfoundland and Labrador recruitment team. According to the letter, the group of residents had a more positive experience during subsequent sessions with recruiters from two other provinces and territories.

In an interview Friday, PC health critic Paul Dinn criticized Haggie's short appearance and the province's physician recruitment strategy.

"To me, other provinces are more interested in our graduates than our own province," Dinn said. "That seems to be the message, and it shouldn't be the message."