Sault MPP cautiously optimistic about a health care solution
Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano says he’s cautiously optimistic a solution can be found in providing primary care to thousands of local patients being de-rostered and who are at risk of being de-rostered through the Group Health Centre.
Romano also said he’s willing to meet with anyone who wants to know about the work being done to provide primary care to patients in the city.
His comments come following a request from United Steelworkers Local 2251, in which they requested a face-to-face between Romano and the unions.
"As you are aware, the Group Health Centre itself has de-rostered 3,000 patients prior to 2024 and is de-rostering 10,000 patients as of May 31," the letter read.
"It was also stated by the Group Health Centre that 6,000 more are at risk."
The letter’s authors go on to cite an alleged incident in which a local doctor applied for a grant from the provincial government to train up to 51 international doctors presently in Sault Ste. Marie and was denied.
"If this in fact is the case, it must be the provincial government of which you are part of, who is denying requests/applications. This is extremely puzzling," the open letter goes on to say.
CTV News contacted Romano on Thursday evening for comment and he said he had only learned of the incident shortly before the rest of the city on January 11.
He has since put together a taskforce in hopes of coming up with a mission statement, both short- and long-term, and solutions to addressing the issues involving doctor shortages.
"The taskforce is comprised of a representative of every type of primary care provider in our community. I tried to bring generational perspectives from all age groups," Romano said.
"We also have a number of specialists who are part of the taskforce."
The MPP said he has been working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Health in a bid to come up with a solution to the crisis.
"I can make no guarantees, but I’m cautiously optimistic, but I’m working towards that because I refuse to lose sight of those patients," he said.
Adding he's hopeful they can come up with a solution before May 31 in hopes of giving affected patients enough time to transition before the final date.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
The union’s letter was signed by 17 different individuals who make up much of the city’s organized labour force.
Earlier this year, 10,000 patients of the Group Health Centre were notified by letters that they would be losing access to their primary care providers and same-day clinic services after May 31.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.