Timmins city council is debating throwing their support behind a motion to have the province reinstate incentives for doctors to practice in rural areas. The motion comes from the Municipality of Bluewater, which is in Huron County. The town says rural areas are at a disadvantage in recruiting family physicians for a number of reasons.
Councillor Andre Grzela says although walk-in clinics are an option in Timmins, they aren’t always ideal. He says the problem is if a patient needs to travel to Toronto for any sort of medical reason, they need a northern referring physician to get an appointment. And, he says some doctors aren’t willing to sign their name if they won’t have continued care over the patient. Grezla says he sees this situation constantly, as he works in MPP Gilles Bisson’s office.
Council is going to vote in their next regular meeting over whether or not to support the motion.
