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speakup

Is there a family physician out there willing to establish a practice in Plaster Rock? Plaster Rock Mayor and council are hoping there is and they're willing to help make them feel at home in the village.

"We will offer an incentive for someone to come here," Mayor Judy St. Peter commented.

Mayor St. Peter said she has received "a lot" of phone calls from village residents concerned about the future of health care service in the community. Dr. Mary Pedersen has announced she is leaving the community and Dr. Litz has also indicated his level of service will be reduced. The announcements leave a lot of people worried about who will be their family doctor.

"We really need someone to establish a family practice," Mayor St. Peter commented, noting locums (temporary doctors) can be brought in for periods of time to provide service at Tobique Valley Hospital but that's not the same as having a family doctor providing continuity of care.

Mayor St. Peter said a letter is going from the village to Mike Murphy, health minister, as well to Dr. Larry Kennedy, MLA for Victoria-Tobique, to the region and to Susan Kukurski, facility manager at the hospital, outlining the municipality's concerns and their desire to find another physician. In addition, Mayor St. Peter said the village will also seek out former Tobiquers who became physicians to see if they would be interested in coming home to set up a practice.