Meaford is issuing a letter of support for the potential creation of a local Family Health Team.
Council approved the letter of support for the North East Grey Health Clinics during its meeting on April 28.
This comes after the provincial government announced $1.8 billion in funding to create and expand 80 new primary care teams in Ontario, with the goal of connecting 300,000 more people to primary care in 2025/2026.
The municipality was contacted to consider providing a letter to a potential application for the creation of a Family Heath Team.
A Family Health Team provides access to a number of primary health care services, including family doctors.
CAO Shawn Everitt says, “I have been on the physician recruitment and retention portfolio for quite some time in the county. Family Health Teams are definitely something that would improve the ability of our area to recruit and retain family physicians.”
The first round of proposals is targeting communities which have the highest rate of people not connected to a primary care provider or team.
Staff recommended council support the request for the proposal application made by the North East Grey Health Clinics.
Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney says the municipality is in need of up to 10 new doctors.
“We really need this Family Health Team to be successful for us for that we can work on that recruitment,” says Keaveney.
Meaford expressed its desire to create a family Health Team Earlier this year while attending the annual Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference.