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A Charlottetown doctor is leaving his practice next month, leaving 1,600 patients in need of a family physician, Health P.E.I. says.
In a statement, the health agency said Dr. Stephen Zimmer will be retiring effective Dec. 19, and that his patients have been contacted about his departure. He currently practises out of Sherwood Family Medical Centre.
“Right now, there is no primary care provider assigned to take over Dr. Zimmer’s practice. His patients are being provided with instructions on how to register for the patient registry,” the statement reads.
“Health P.E.I. would like to thank Dr. Zimmer for his years of service in the Island health-care system and his dedication to his patients. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
P.E.I. Health Minister Mark McLane previously told CBC News that Zimmer is in his early 70s, and moved to Canada from the United States in 2019.
Health P.E.I. said it’s hired a total of 36 physicians, including six family medicine doctors, since the beginning of the year.
It also said 7,427 Islanders have been affiliated with a primary care provider between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31.
According to the province’s website, there are just over 35,000 Islanders on the patient registry waiting to be assigned to a primary care provider.