Terence Kernaghan MPP, London North Centre

HAMILTON and NICKEL BELT — NDP Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addictions, and Primary Care, Dr. Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre), and Shadow Minister of Health, France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) released the following statement after this morning's Ford government announcement on primary care: 

“Connecting more people to primary care is important," said Dr. Lennox. "But the government cannot declare success while ignoring the looming crisis in our family doctor workforce. With half of family physicians expected to retire within the next five years, where is the plan to keep experienced doctors practicing and ensure their patients don’t lose access to care? Attaching patients today means little if they are left without a provider tomorrow. Ontarians need a real retention strategy that supports family doctors, protects continuity of care and ensures patients have a trusted provider now and for the long term. That includes the 1.8 millions Ontarians presently without any access.” 

“Investing in primary care is absolutely necessary," said MPP Gélinas. "But Ontarians cannot afford to wait years for the care they need. In Northern Ontario, communities face unique challenges recruiting and retaining family doctors, and nurse practitioners; expanding primary care teams must reflect those realities. We also need to address the wage disparities that make it harder to recruit and retain health care professionals in primary care when other parts of the system offer better compensation. Funding is welcome, but it must roll out faster and reach the communities that need it most, including rural and northern communities.”