Decision to close Corner Brook cardiology practice was not an easy one for Dr. Yahya Ismail

Dr. Yahya Ismail is seen in a monitoring room in the EKG department of Western Memorial Regional Hospital on Friday. Ismail is closing his cardiology practice in the city. - Diane Crocker

Closing his practice and leaving Corner Brook was not an easy decision for Dr. Yahya Ismail to make.

“I never thought to practise anywhere else,” said the cardiologist who has been in the city since 2007. He operated his practice as part of the Medical Consultants of West Newfoundland.

“I feel really bad about this. The people here (are) very special to me,” he said Friday. “It’s not only professionally, but it’s emotionally, it’s socially."

Ismail was on leave when he notified Western Health in mid-February that we would not be returning.

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His said his daughter is awaiting word on acceptance to a medical school and he feels he needs to be where his family is. His full-time schedule would not enable him to just pick up and go when needed.

Ismail said he was overwhelmed when he had to make the decision not to return here.

In March Western Health had said it was unsure if Ismail would return to close up his practice, but Ismail told The Western Star then that it was his intention to do that this month.

He came back to the city on April 12 and his last clinic day is scheduled for May 4. Until then he’s got a full schedule of visits and procedures booked.

Once he’s finished patients requiring care will be seen be local general/internal medicine specialists and cardiologist Dr. Mike Roy, who will do locums in the city until this summer.

Western Health has said previously it has recruited an internist with special training in cardiology who will start work in July and that will take on much of the load left by Ismail’s

departure. It’s also continuing its recruitment effort for a non-invasive cardiologist.

Ismail said he is willing to come back for short terms if needed as he has no plans of giving up his licence.

And he thinks there are a lot of positives in Newfoundland that will help attract specialists to the province.

When it comes to recruitment he says collaboration is key.

“Maybe east and west health can work together in getting some program in the future to attract people, especially cardiologists.”