Neudorf on how UCP is combating Lethbridge doctor shortage

Nathan Neudorf and Cheryl Seaborn, the UCP Lethbridge-East and West candidates announced their official campaign launch this week.

One of the biggest issues plaguing Lethbridge over the past few years has been the shortage of family physicians. The Chinook Primary Care website says no clinics are accepting new patients besides the Prairie Treatment Opioid Dependency Clinic. A total of 17 new doctors have been hired and are going through the process with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta to make sure their credentials line up.

We asked Neudorf about what the province is doing to try to attract and retain even more doctors in the future.

“This is a challenge all across Canada, not just here in Lethbridge. In Alberta, we’ve actually seen an increase of over 300 doctors this last calendar year, and we need our share here in Lethbridge. We’ve also got the pilot project funding for our university to look at training doctors right here. And I think there’s recent reports showing 65-70 per cent of locally trained doctors in graduating classes stay in the locality where they’ve trained. So that’s a really huge next step for us to take as a province, and I look forward to that happening as well.”

It’s estimated that around 40,000 people in Lethbridge are without a family physician.

We also asked Neudorf about his election opponent for Lethbridge-East, Rob Miyashiro. Miyashiro is a former Lethbridge councillor and the current executive director of the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization.

“He’ll be a formidable foe, for sure. I’m going to focus on my campaign, what the United Conservatives have done, our economic record, our investment into Lethbridge, my representation, and how I’ve served the community.

Neudorf also outlined several capital projects that Lethbridge is set to receive this year.

For schools in our city, there are four new projects in the works including two new schools in Lethbridge on the West side.

Galbraith Elementary School is going to get a full modernization. As well, École La Vérendrye School, the city’s only Francophone school will be receiving a gym expansion.

Neudorf says that Lethbridge will be acquiring a renal dialysis program expansion. There will also be a new catheterization lab making its way to Lethbridge.