A shortage of psychiatrists and its effect on mental health services in PEI was a focus Wednesday in the first question period of the fall sitting of the Legislature.
Opposition leader James Aylward told the House that health care professionals are telling them about long wait times for help because of staff shortages — and about staff burnout.
Health Minister Robert Henderson says the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has seen the temporary closure of five beds in Unit 9, the mental health unit, because of the shortage of psychiatrists.
He says the province has agreements with four psychiatrists to come to PEI — two of them permanent and two on a locum basis. They are expected in the next couple of months.