亚洲天堂 Lake is about to lose it鈥檚 only full-time doctor.

Doctor Kibonge will be leaving at an unspecified date. According to Northern Health (NH), he is leaving for family reasons.

鈥淭he workload will be managed by the remaining physicians and locum support, and the emergency department is expected to remain open,鈥� said Eryn Collins, NH spokesperson.

Recently, the 亚洲天堂 Lake hospital has been short-staffed in its emergency room, leading to reports of patients being diverted to other hospitals in the region.

鈥淚t should be noted that a recent emergency room coverage issue was related to an unexpected and unavoidable nursing shortage, and not to any physician issues,鈥� clarified Colins.  鈥淧hysician recruitment for 亚洲天堂 Lake continues to be a high priority for Northern Health.鈥�

Doctor Kibonge came to 亚洲天堂 Lake from South Africa in June, 2012. When he arrived, he became 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 only full-time doctor.

At the time, he joked that he didn鈥檛 mind the workload, but to get back to him in a year.

鈥淎sk me again in  year and see if the answer has changed,鈥� he said at the time.

亚洲天堂 Lake has not yet enjoyed the success other northern communities have had in attracting doctors.

In the span of one year, the Stuart Lake hospital in Fort St. James went from one doctor to four full-time physicians.

Currently, 亚洲天堂 Lake is served by three part-time doctors, and Dr. Kibonge.