Blind River losing two family doctors

Northern Ontario’s family doctor shortage has taken another hit – this time in the community of Blind River.

Currently, the Huron Shores Family Health Team has six physicians. However, in June two of them are leaving the area meaning another 1,500 patients will no longer have a family doctor.

“For the 1,500 that are missing out on having their immediate family physician, it’s a huge blow,” said Blind River Mayor Sally Hagman.

Craig Matheson is the recruitment coordinator for the North Shore Health Network and he told CTV News that the area from Blind River to St. Joseph's Island – including Espanola and Manitoulin – already struggles to bring in enough doctors.

Matheson said the loss of two more MDs is another step backward for the network.

"Twenty full-time positions in this region, 22 now as of July,” he said.

“So seemingly insurmountable to do this all in one year, but we're going to keep working at it."

The Huron Shores Family Health Team currently has six physicians. However, in June two of them are leaving the area meaning another 1,500 patients will no longer have a family doctor. (Cory Nordstrom/CTV News Northern Ontario)Hagman said that the town has a growing aging population.

“We also have physicians that are not there due to the numbers,” she said.

“We've seen this for the last 10 years."

Health-care officials told CTV News that the de-rostering of 1,500 patients is going to create a strain on the local emergency department – and making matters worse in smaller towns like Blind River it is often family doctors that cover shifts in the emergency room.

Matheson said he aims to bring in physicians who are willing to serve the community in hybrid roles but at this point, he will take what he can get.

"Any shifts that they (family doctors) are filling is less locums that we're looking for, and searching for, and bringing into the site,” he said.

“It really helps, but right now I think we have to be flexible and offer the preferential scopes that people are willing to offer."

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The recruiter said it is not all bad news as he does have some promising candidates to fill some of the vacation roles in the health care team across the region this summer.