A report to Hastings County indicates a large number of people do not have access to family doctors.
The executive director of Gateway Community Health Centre Mayo Hawko addressed Hastings County Council on Thursday.
Hawko told council there is now the highest number of mental health and physical health issues since the COVID numbers escalated.
Hawko added that many people in the region do not have access to physician care or nurse practitioners.
“We anticipate that there’s probably between 20 (thousand) and 25,000 people that do not have access to a primary care physicians or a nurse practioner and we refer to those folks as the unattached.”
Hawko added if you don’t have access to primary care then who will refer you to further services you need.
“I’m sure you can imagine if you don’t have access to a primary care provider who’s going to refer you for further services that you need. Other services you have challenges trying to access addictions and mental health and community support services.”
In March 2022 , 15.1 per cent of Hastings Prince Edward was determined “uncertain attached.” So do not have access to a primary care provider. May not have one, or may not be accessible.
“So you could live in Tweed and you can have a family physician in Toronto and no access to transportation as an example. We are higher than the provincial average.”
Hawko pointed out that, “You see a number of people from outside of our region come into the region increasing the demand.”
Hawko says the group has an action plan and right now is completing an analysis of primary health care in Hastings and Prince Edward counties with a report coming the end of July.
