Vitalité Health Network moves to ensure continuity of care following departure of two specialists

Moncton, Friday, May 27, 2022 – Vitalité Health Network is taking a series of measures to ensure the continuity of care of all oncology patients following the announcement that two specialists will be leaving the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (UHC) in Moncton at the end of July. The Network affirms that quality of care will be maintained despite this exceptional situation.

“We understand that this situation may be concerning to patients and their loved ones, but we wish to reassure them that their health is our greatest priority.

Every effort is being made to prevent any patient from finding themselves without physician care or having their treatment disrupted, and we can confirm that the continuity of care of all oncology patients at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC is being maintained,”

—Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of Vitalité Health Network. 

The Network has mobilized the family physicians practising oncology in its satellite sites to lighten the workload of the oncologist team at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC.   A major effort is currently underway to classify and prioritize all patients in order to identify those within the semi-active clientele who can be handled by their family physician and those who will continue their follow-up with an oncologist. Our specialists are actively involved in the planning to provide their patients with follow-up.

Patients directly affected by the departure of these specialists will be contacted by the Oncology Centre or their family physician within the coming weeks.

The Network is also looking at possible collaboration with other oncology centres that could look after certain patients – without the quality or nature of their care being affected.

Finally, we have intensified our efforts to recruit new specialists. The Network cannot unfortunately count on this initiative to meet needs in the short term but is, however, confident that it will be successful in the medium term.

“I wish to highlight the tremendous collaboration and commitment we are receiving from our family physicians practising oncology in our satellite sites and from all our Network teams in ensuring that our patients receive care,” Dr. Desrosiers added.

The Network thanks patients and their loved ones for their understanding under these exceptional circumstances and regrets any resulting inconvenience.