Leaders of Prince Edward Island’s Liberal and Green parties demand urgent changes to retain doctors after three family physicians announced their departure, impacting 4,500 patients who will soon lack primary care providers.
Physicians Cite Disrespect and Workload Pressures
Dr. Heather Austin, who has practiced family medicine on the island since 2011, plans to close her Summerside practice and relocate to Nova Scotia in 2028. She blames an agreement between doctors, Health P.E.I., and the provincial government for making her job unsustainable. “Health P.E.I. made it harder for me to do the work that I love,” Austin stated.
The other departing doctors, Dr. Andrew MacLeod and Dr. Mitchell Stewart, have also notified Health P.E.I. of their exits. Austin highlighted metrics in the agreement that extend beyond face-to-face patient visits, including administrative tasks and collaboration duties.
Opposition Leaders Demand Action
Liberal Leader Robert Mitchell describes the island’s health care system as in “very bad shape,” with a “toxic atmosphere” where doctors feel disrespected. “We should have the best health care anywhere in the world. It doesn’t seem like it’s that way. It doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better,” Mitchell said.
He reviewed Austin’s letter detailing increased workloads and urged provincial officials to learn from the departing physicians. “We have to hear their message and then work with that to make sure that changes are made,” Mitchell added, emphasizing the need to engage all frontline health professionals.
Green Party Leader Matt MacFarlane echoes these concerns, noting conversations with distressed doctors over the past year. “This is not going to incentivize doctors to come to P.E.I., it’s not going to keep doctors here. So the path that government has decided to go down with doctors is clearly the wrong path,” he stated.
MacFarlane expressed surprise at Austin’s public disclosure, as physicians have felt intimidated from speaking out due to the culture at Health P.E.I. and the Department of Health and Wellness. “I think that speaks to the seriousness of where we’re at when we now have doctors speaking out publicly,” he said.
Background on Physician Agreement Disputes
Tensions stem from the 2024 Physician Services Agreement between the Department of Health, Health P.E.I., and the Medical Society of P.E.I. Early 2025 saw disputes over a new operational guide, prompting the medical society to threaten legal action.
Mediation in December 2025 produced a memorandum of agreement offering two patient roster models: Model A with 1,600 patients or Model B with 1,300. Despite this, some family doctors remain dissatisfied with non-clinical tracking requirements.
