The shortage of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals is an issue everywhere including at Quinte Health’s four hospitals but progress on staffing is being made.
President of Quinte Health Stacey Daub tells Quinte News that “a lot” of hiring has been done recently and stresses that Loyalist College’s expanding medical programs are playing a crucial role in attracting qualified people.
Loyalist is providing a degree program for Registered Nurses and also graduates Personal Support Workers and Registered Practical Nurses.
Daub says it’s getting even better.
“We just found out from Loyalist they’re going to be bringing in a medical radiologist program and I think they really are going to become a college destination for health care and that’s going to be great for our community.”
Record numbers of people attended Quinte Health’s last two orientations for prospective staff.
Meanwhile, work will continue throughout 2024 to build and invest in programs and services in local hospitals.
Daub says administration will work to improve local oncology and surgical services but will also work to deepen partnerships in the wider community.
Daub says it’s one thing to have a strong hospital but more needs to be done to improve access to primary care and provide more home care programs.
“That’s both an opportunity and a challenge and we’re quite concerned about those services and as many know, and the public knows, if those services aren’t available or working in the community the hospital becomes the default.”
Other priorities in the new year will be the launch of a critical services planning process which will involve input from Quinte Health staff, patients and community partners.
The end result will be a blueprint of guiding priorities for developing programs and services at local hospitals in future years.
