A group of new doctors are coming to Prince Edward County this year and a successful pilot project will secure physicians for 1,000 residents on the Health Care Connect waitlist.
Physician Recruiter Adam Hambly, updated the committee of the whole on Thursday as he requested an additional $75,000 to take another 750 County residents in need of a doctor off the waitlist.
Prince Edward County’s Health Care Premium Pilot Project was designed to facilitate large numbers of patients to come off the province’s Health Care Connect waitlist by offering $25,000 to doctors willing to take 250 patients off the waitlist, he explained.
The 1,000 patients coming off Health Care Connect represent approximately 50 per cent of the waitlist.
However, Hambly noted it was likely there are 5,000 residents without doctors in the County and that list is expected to grow further as more people are removed from the waitlist.
Council already approved the $100,000 during the 2024 budget talks along with $250,000 for doctor recruitment. With the new $75,000 ask, this increases the total to $425,000.
Coun. John Hirsch called it a “no brainer” and said that the municipality should provide another $75,000.
The committee approved the request and council will consider finalizing it at its next meeting.
The committee approved the ask and council will consider finalizing it at its next meeting.
Concerning new doctors coming on board the County welcomed Dr. Dineen and Dr. Branton in January and Hambly said four more would be welcoming patients this year as well. Dr. Blackbyrne is expected to open practice in the County in May and Dr. Lee in September. The two other new arrivals are expected in June and September.
For Prince Edward County residents who have doctors in other jurisdictions and would like to apply for one locally, Hambly advised they have a conversation with their physician about de-rostering. Hambly said patients can de-roster and receive care from their current doctor while waiting on Health Care Connect for a Prince Edward County physician to select them.
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