Another new doctor has joined the Family Health team, bringing the total number of doctors recruited under the County Docs program to 9. But that’s not all of it.

“The report indicates that we’ve had a ninth physician join our team,” said Director of Recruitment Adam  Hambly at Committee of the Whole. “There will actually now be a 10th before the end of the year.

“Anyone who was assigned to the Healthcare Connect list prior to January of 2025 has been cleared,” he continued. “Now we’re working on post-January 2025, for those registered after that. 

“Right now we have almost 80 percent of that list cleared. Our goal for July is almost 80 percent achieved. So, we’ve had some tremendous traction with the Healthcare Connect list.”

The COTW approved some changes to the County Docs program Memorandum of Understanding to include Northumberland County in its non-compete clause, making sure Brighton is on the list. It also approved a new reserve fund, and an extension of the MOU to 2029, to coincide with the end of the program.

The MOU is an agreement that a municipality will not offer incentives to a physician who has signed an agreement with another listed municipality. It does not restrict patients from having a physician in a different municipality.

 “I know how difficult it is to compete against so many other municipalities, all of whom have exactly the same needs that we do,” Mayor Ferguson commented. “I just want to extend congratulations and gratitude for everything you’ve done to attract the ten doctors so far. And I know you’re working to get more of them.”

“Because this might be the last time I address this particular council,” said Mr. Hambly, “I do want to thank the entire council for their forward thinking on this primary care crisis. I think we’ve shown some pretty good movements forward and improvements, and you are a big part of that, advancing what is technically a provincial responsibility. You have stepped up to address the needs locally.”

The future of healthcare in the County

Councillor Roberts asked about a similar program for nurse practitioners. “The province has focused on team-based care as a part of the primary care transformation work that is happening,” said Barinder Gill of the Family Health Team. “While we don’t have plans for a nurse-practitioner-led clinic here, they are a part of the primary care transformation work that is happening here. 

“We were funded for one nurse practitioner position as a part of that project. We will be asking for more.

“The one nurse practitioner that we do have as a part of our team-based care has rostered 801 patients.”

Councillor Nieman asked about changes at the provincial and federal levels that might relieve municipalities of the burden of recruitment. “I think it’s really going to come down to a supply and demand issue,” rejoined Mr. Hambly. “Municipalities are stepping up because the demand is so high and the supply is so low. As multiple levels of government address that issue you won’t need to see such investment from a municipal level. You won’t need incentives. 

“There’s a huge amount of work now to recruit international physicians and streamline that process. As much as we want domestic opportunities for physicians, and more medical schools, the reality is that that’s not going to happen for years. 

“Our only source of increasing supply is internationally. There’s been a tremendous amount of effort and investment there, as in, for example the Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance, of which the County is a founding member. 

“You’ll see a lot more of that. In parallel to that, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the licensing body for physicians, is streamlining the licensing and credentialing process for international physicians.

“We’ll finish the couple years that we have and by then I would expect and hope that we will not have to fund this type of work for much longer,” he concluded.