by The Nova Scotia Health Authority is trying to recruit 13 family doctors for Cape Breton as the Island faces a shortage of family physicians.
Health officials say half a dozen doctors have left Cape Breton or retired, and another six or seven will leave their practices within the next six to 18 months.
That’s left thousands of patients without a general practitioner.
The health authority says it has a number of recruiting initiatives underway and is hopeful the positions will be filled.
However, it also admits that’s going to take time.
One of the initiatives is a medical resident program that brings medical students to Cape Breton to finish their training.
After that, officials say some graduates decide to stay.