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Credits Button		 Health HeaderHealth HeaderIn the early days of Island settlement, local doctors provided many services to communities and their residents. In addition to attending to their patients and serving at times of emergency, rural doctors were responsible for the care of the invalid poor and provided personal counselling above and beyond medical advice. Before treatments were developed for ailments such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia, doctors would often have to approach patient care with more sympathy than medicine. Volunteer female nurses often assisted their local doctor. Some of Kensington’s early doctors included Dr. D. G. MacKay and Dr. Donald Darrach, who practised in the late nineteenth century. Dr. E. G. Gillis started practising medicine in Kensington in 1899.

Prince Edward Island’s five regional health and social services offices play a vital role in Island communities, providing services for children, families, and seniors, ensuring that each and all have access to appropriate care and help. The regional health authorities are responsible for planning, integrating, co-ordinating, and delivering health and community services in their respective areas: West Prince; East Prince; Queens Region; Southern Kings; and Eastern Kings. Although they are responsible for services in their area, each office originates from the provincial department of Health and Social Services.

Kensington Medical CenterThe Kensington area falls under the jurisdiction of the East Prince Health authority. In addition to being responsible for acute medical care through the Prince County Hospital and Stewart Memorial Hospital in Tyne Valley, the East Prince Health office provides an array of services. Long term care for seniors involves housing services and home care. Family services include social work, speech therapy, nutritionists, adoption and foster care, child protection, public health nursing, pediatric care, and obstetrics. The diagnostics, therapeutics, and support service section includes nutrition services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacies, chaplain services, electrocardiogram (ECG), X-ray, and regional environmental services. Mental health care and services, addiction services, family support, and financial assistance are also administered through East Prince Health. In addition, a provincial geriatrician service is based out of the region. This physician participates in direct consultation with elderly patients experiencing dementia, immobility, and anxiety.

QEHWhen an individual’s health problems reach the point that he or she requires hospitalization, seven hospitals across the Island are prepared to provide care. Prince County has four hospitals, in Alberton, O’Leary, Tyne Valley, and Summerside. Queens County has one, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The two remaining hospitals are located in Montague and Souris. Many communities operate medical clinics that house diverse health practitioners, such as physicians, public health nurses, and dentists. There are also 14 veterinary clinics province-wide. Kensington, for example, has two family clinics (the Kensington Family Medical Centre and the Kensington Medical Clinic) from which three doctors operate. Kensington also has a public health nurse working out of the Community Centre, a dentist, a pharmacy, and a veterinary clinic with four doctors.

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