Thousands of people in Belleville are in need of a family physician despite the city’s family physician program.
For the long lineup of frustrated citizens in the city this week, failing to sign up for a family doctor is just a drop in the bucket.
Manager of Economic and Strategic Initiatives Karen Poste, who manages the doctor recruitment program, says thousands of people are without a family doctor.
She tells Quinte News city residents should realize the province, not the city, is responsible for health care resources.
She added, “I think a lot of those folks were also on the Health Care Connect waiting list but they saw an opportunity to connect with a physician and they attended Dr. Ademidun’s office.”
Poste did say Belleville’s negotiations with the province last fall, regarding nurse practitioners, might lead to some more resources but there’s been no decision yet.
“We’re hoping to have some additional health care resources at some point in the future committed for the region. The challenge with nurse practitioners is the only way they can practice is to be paid through a particular model sponsored by the province, or a doctor open their office and bill the Ministry of Health directly. A nurse practitioner cannot do the billing. They have to have what’s called a funded position from the province or work with a physician. There are not enough funded positions in the province.”
