Should Sault’s doctor recruiters also look for nurse practitioners?

At Monday's city council meeting, two councillors will push for a rethinking of how Sault Ste. Marie recruits medical doctors.

A resolution to be presented by Ward 4 Coun. Stephan Kinach and Ward 1's Sandra Hollingsworth suggests the local physician recruitment committee review its terms of reference and change its funding partners to focus more on primary care.

Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.

The following is the full text of the Kinach-Hollingsworth proposal:

Physician recruitment and retention

Mover: Coun. S. Kinach
Seconder: Coun. S. Hollingsworth

Whereas the Group Health Centre recently announced the de-rostering of 10,000 patients as a result of physician retirements or departures; and

Whereas there are believed to be 30,000 patients without access to a primary care provider in the Sault Ste. Marie area; and

Whereas the City of Sault Ste. Marie is not responsible for the delivery of healthcare, but plays a role in the recruitment and retention of physicians within our community; and

Whereas since its inception in 2002, the physician recruitment committee has recruited 205 physicians to practice in our community, an average of 10 per year; and

Whereas the challenges in physician recruitment and primary care delivery are common across Ontario; and

Whereas access to primary care is an issue that impacts social and economic outcomes in our community;

Now therefore be it resolved that city council request the physician recruitment and retention committee review its terms of reference and recommend changes to its funding partners to ensure its focus is on the delivery of primary care in the community, whether through adding nurse practitioner recruitment to their scope of duties, or other efforts that may provide easier access to primary care to Sault residents.