Dr. Nash Denic confirmed Wednesday that two pathologists are leaving the province for jobs in Alberta. (CBC)

Two pathologists at a St. John's-based health authority have resigned, only weeks after the Newfoundland and Labrador government approved a whopping pay hike.

Dr. Nash Denic, chief of laboratory medicine at Eastern Health, confirmed Wednesday that two pathologists are leaving for jobs in Alberta.

Denic told CBC News they are leaving for personal reasons, and he is respecting their wishes.

Nonetheless, he said, the loss of the pathologists — each with more than than 15 years of experience — will pose difficulties for the authority, whose pathology department has been the focus of public scrutiny amid a scandal over flawed breast cancer testing.

"Losing people obviously doesn't mean anything good," Denic said. "They are people with experience and a great amount of knowledge."

CBC News has been told the pathologists are a married couple.

Denic said the pathologists will be leaving their jobs in September.

Departures came despite wage package

The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced a precedent-setting remuneration package for pathologists and some oncologists in May, raising wages, stipends and benefits to among the highest paid in the country.

Peter Dawe of the Canadian Cancer Society's N.L. division says: 'From a patient perspective, this is not the type of news you want to be hearing.' (CBC)

Premier Danny Williams said government developed the unilateral wage deal to stop specialists from quitting their jobs.

The raise came shortly after two Eastern Health pathologists tendered their resignations. One has since changed his mind.

Denic said the loss of two additional pathologists will mean greater strain for other specialists still on the job.

Peter Dawe, executive director of the Canadian Cancer Society's Newfoundland and Labrador division, said the resignations are a setback.

"From a patient perspective, this is not the type of news you want to be hearing," said Dawe.

"If you're going to get a diagnosis of cancer, the last thing you want to be thinking about [is], 'Was the test right?' or 'Were there enough pathologists?' or 'Do I have to travel five hours to get even diagnostic surgery, let alone treatment?'" he said.

"So it's a hard time."

Pat Pilgrim, a chief operating officer at Eastern Health, said the resignations come at a difficult time.

"Obviously, its a major challenge for us," she said. "We've got a couple who have signed on in the last couple of weeks. Now, of course, there's two who are leaving, but that was in the works for a while.

"The whole issue of continuity of care and keeping pathologists here for a period of time is really very important to us."

Longer wait times predicted

Denic said the departures will likely mean longer wait times for patients having diagnostic work done.

"That's going to reflect on the increased workload and probably increased turnaround time for the reports."

Coincidentally, Eastern Health has been interviewing candidates for other vacant positions.

If new recruits are not found by September, Eastern Health will be short six of 16 positions in adult surgical pathology. The vacancies include a pathologist on stress leave.

Eastern Health operates tertiary hospitals in St. John's that serve all the province, as well as regional hospitals, clinics and nursing homes on the Burin, Bonavista and Avalon Peninsulas.

Trying to overcome 'challenging times': Denic

"It's not nice seeing your colleagues leaving," said Denic, adding he is nonetheless hopeful that the package will ultimately halt the turnover of pathologists who come to work in St. John's, but wind up leaving for jobs in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta.

"These are challenging times that we're trying to overcome, but I'm always optimistic … I believe we have the potential to get back on our feet in [reasonable] times."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association blasted Williams and the provincial government over the deal.

The NLMA said while the raise is worthwhile for pathologists, and medical and radiation oncologists, it will be divisive with other specialties.