Nova Scotia to face surgical delays as replacements sought for Saudi trainees
HALIFAX — The pending departure of almost 60 Saudi Arabian medical residents because of a diplomatic spat will cause surgical delays over the coming months, says an official with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
Dr. Mark Taylor, executive medical director for the central zone, said “minor delays” of up to a few weeks would likely occur for scheduled surgeries as health officials look to fill gaps created by the departures.
“Patients who have been waiting for scheduled surgery, I would say there may be delays of up to a few weeks as a result of this but I don’t think it will be more than that,” said Taylor in an interview Monday. “I don’t think the delays are likely to be major and probably we will be able to carry on because everybody takes up the slack.”
About 1,000 Saudi residents and fellows in Canada were called back to the kingdom when it abruptly suspended diplomatic relations over a government tweet that criticized the Saudis for the arrest of female social activists.