During an afternoon meeting today, January 24, 2022, the South Dundas and South Stormont Joint Doctor Recruitment Committee met with the Ministry of Health. The meeting was held during the annual Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference.
Since 2020 the joint Committee has been working to bring more physicians to South Dundas and South Stormont. Since it’s inception the Committee’s efforts have gained two new physicians to help support the community. However, with the retirement of long-time doctors and an ever-growing need, the Committee knows that more must be done. Support from higher levels of government is needed.
As spokesperson for the Committee during the January 24 meeting, South Dundas Deputy Mayor Kirsten Gardner touched on key issues the two communities are facing. The Committee lobbied the Ministry for more support for doctor recruitment efforts, equal opportunity healthcare in rural areas and a more inclusive healthcare system that brings specialty services closer to home.
The Committee championed the need for robust and accessible mental health services, family practitioners and healthcare beyond traditional physician recruitment.
“Access to healthcare has long been an issue in our region, and as our communities continue to grow, we must make strides toward improving the healthcare services our residents receive,” said South Stormont Mayor, Bryan McGillis. “In order to effectively do that, we need further support from all levels of government.”
“We’re very proud of what the Committee has been able to accomplish in the last two years and we will continue to work towards our goals,” said South Dundas Deputy Mayor Gardner. “But we also need to be heard and supported by our provincial partners and that’s what we aimed to achieve today. Rural community residents deserve equal opportunity to the healthcare spectrum.”
It is the Committee’s hope that the province will show their support and commit to becoming a stakeholder in rural physician recruitment and the improvement of rural healthcare.
Committee members include Brian McGillis, Kirsten Gardner, Don Lewis, Cindy Woods, Shannon Geraghty, and Debi Lucas Switzer.