Norfolk County is taking proactive steps to address a pressing issue: a significant shortage of doctors in the municipality. At a recent council-in-committee meeting, councillors approved allocating $250,000 from the Safe Restart Funding provided by the province to municipalities for dealing with the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is earmarked specifically for recruiting doctors, with the goal of stabilizing and rebuilding the local healthcare system.
Heidy Van Dyk, the general manager of corporate services, highlighted the importance of this funding, stating that stabilizing healthcare is a crucial use of the Safe Restart Funding. According to information from Workforce Health Ontario, Norfolk County currently has fewer primary care physicians per 100,000 people compared to the provincial average. Additionally, 17% of residents in the county do not have a family doctor, indicating a significant gap in healthcare access.
The situation is expected to worsen as local doctors retire, with 22% of primary care physicians in Norfolk being over the age of 60. This demographic trend means that a sizable portion of Norfolk’s population is reliant on aging doctors, further exacerbating the need for new healthcare providers.
To address these challenges, the Norfolk County physician recruitment committee will convene to develop strategies for attracting doctors to the area. These strategies may include financial incentives, sponsored visits for physicians to experience the local community, and participation in recruitment events attended by medical students.
Mayor Amy Martin highlighted the effectiveness of offering scholarships to local students who commit to practicing in Norfolk after completing their medical education. This approach not only invests in community members but also encourages long-term commitments from healthcare professionals with roots in the area.
While some concerns were raised about the allocation of funds for physician recruitment, citing the need for staff across various sectors, it was noted that many municipalities are employing similar financial incentives to attract doctors. Norfolk County’s investment of $250,000, while significant, is part of a broader effort to address doctor shortages that are not unique to Norfolk but are prevalent across the province and the country.
Norfolk County’s recruitment efforts may also extend to nurse practitioners and paramedics, further diversifying the healthcare workforce to meet the community’s needs. A detailed strategy will be developed by the recruitment team and presented to the council for final approval before any funds are disbursed.
