Paul Oram held no bones about the media's involvment in his decision to step down as the province's Minister of Health and MHA for Terra Nova during a surprising and hastily-called news conference Oct. 7 in St. John's.

Mr. Oram told media gathered in front of the House of Assembly his decision to step down, effective Oct. 7, was health-related, noting he has serious blood pressure issues, which he attributed partly to the scrunity the media has given him and his family while covering health care-related issues in the province.

He noted the resignation has nothing to do with his relationship with Premier Danny Williams whom he referred to as a mentor.

Mr. Oram's decision comes just three months after becoming head of the health department on July 9, when Premier Williams shifted then-Minister Oram's portfolio from business with former health minister Ross Wiseman, who was under fire for more than a year and saw the heights of discontent in the province over the health-care system.

Mr. Oram, who entered the political arena in 2003, also felt the health care heat, recently coming under fire with announcements of the cancelling of X-ray and lab services in Lewisporte and Flower’s Cove.

He relented on a decision to cut services at the clinic in Flower's Cove to just 12 hours, and stated last week the clinic will continue to provide service on a 24-hour basis. Mr. Oram was criticized for reversing his decision as a political move, given that a bylection has been called for the area.

— With files from The Telegram