A severe blow for the City of Dryden.
Dr. Peter Ryan and Dr. Stuart Ford of the Dryden Medical Clinic have announced they plan to stop practising medicine in the city.
Their apparant departure leaves a gapping hole in a community that is already suffering from a shortage of physicians.
Dr. Patty Louvitt of the Dryden Medical Clinic says the medical community will work together to recruit physicians until their departure.
Louvitt adds that if they are not successful in that front, they will likely be forced to close the clinic.
A series of meetings are planned in the coming weeks to discuss ways of easing the physician shortage and the impact the doctors departure will have on the city.
No retirement date has been set but when it happens all medical staff in Dryden plan to work together to maintain essential medical services.
At that time, if recruitment efforts are unsuccessful people can expect long delays at the Dingwall Clinic and at the Hospital Emergency Room.