Doctor shortage in Cambridge expected to stabilize in 2016
Posted Dec 30, 2015 07:44:35 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The doctor shortage in Cambridge is easing and it’s expected to stabilize come 2016.
In 2015, two doctors retired and eight were hired to replace them. Two family physicians are expected to retire in 2016, but more could announce their retirement in the new year.
Changes made by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care were expected to cause shortages for doctors this year, but Cambridge fared better than other cities.
“Most doctors want to join a family health organization and they’re allowing a very minimal amount of those spots, so it’s hard for those physicians to take on those positions” says Donna Gravelle, Doctor Recruitment Coordinator for Cambridge and North Dumfries. “That’s basically what they’ve trained in. The newer doctors, that’s a challenge to find a fit for them.”
Gravelle says Cambridge has marketed itself as an attractive place for doctors to base their practise.
“I think our proximity to Toronto and to the 401 is very attractive to most physicians coming to Cambridge” says Gravelle. “The lifestyle. It’s a great place to raise a family. It’s big enough that they have the amenities, but small enough that you have that small town feel.”
