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London's Doctor Shortage: Hope on the Horizon?
20 Jan
Summary
- 93,000 London-area residents lack a family doctor currently.
- Seven doctors recruited by Middlesex-London OHT in two years.
- A $5 million investment aims to expand primary care teams.
Efforts to attract new physicians to the London, Ontario area are intensifying as 93,000 residents currently live without a family doctor. The Middlesex-London Ontario Health Team has reported success in its recruitment program, having onboarded seven doctors within the last two years. Additionally, nearly two dozen other physicians are reportedly considering practicing in the region.
This recruitment drive is part of a broader provincial initiative, the Primary Care Action Plan, which aims to connect Ontarians with primary care providers. The local program emphasizes team-based care, leveraging investments like a recent $5 million allocation to expand primary care teams. This funding supports additional healthcare professionals, enabling them to assist a larger patient population and address the growing community's needs.
To encourage doctors to settle in the area, the program offers comprehensive support, including assistance with establishing a practice and integrating into the community. Residents seeking a family doctor are advised to register with Health Care Connect, a provincial service that matches patients with available physicians.
