Chair of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, Phil Wild (left) and John Smylie of OurTMH speak at Quinte West council August 21, 2017.(Photo: John Spitters / Quintenews).
There will soon be another volunteer led group in Quinte West working to improve healthcare.
Chair of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation Phil Wild joined John Smylie of the OurTMH in asking Quinte West council to support the creation of a committee to recruit new family doctors to the Quinte West/Brighton area.
They also asked Quinte West council to match a $50,000 contribution from the Foundation so a co-ordinator can be hired to organize events, promotions, and meetings to bring in new physicians.
Quinte West council voted to give the group $50,000.
Phil Wild comments.
The new committee will consist of people from Quinte Health Care, the Brighton Quinte West Family Health Team, OurTMH, the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, members of Quinte West and Brighton councils, and members of the general public.
Work will begin soon to set up terms of reference and a job description so a part-time coordinator can be hired.
The coordinator would come up with doctor retention strategies and events, open up lines of communication with medical schools, conduct tours of the area for prospects, as well as develop recognition programs for current physicians.
It’s estimated the Quinte West and Brighton area needs 30 to 40 family doctors, as new medical graduates do not want to serve the same number of patients as the physicians who are now approaching retirement.
The City of Quinte West will continue with its own efforts to recruit new doctors. Quinte Health Care will also work to bring doctors to its four hospital sites.
