kingston looks to build on doctor recruitment success
since 2022, kingston has recruited 25 doctors to both replace those who are retiring and increase the number of family doctors in the city
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hundreds of people line up on montreal street outside a kingston family health clinic in hopes of becoming rostered for a family doctor at cdk family medicine in kingston, ont. on wednesday, feb. 29, 2024.
elliot ferguson
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the whig-standard file photo
kingston — city council is to be asked to commit $600,000 to a recruitment program that has brought 25 family physicians to kingston since 2022.
the city has spent about $3 million in the past few years to attract family doctors.
of the 25 doctors recruited since the city started its efforts, 17 have replaced retiring doctors and eight were “net new” doctors.
the new doctors are now taking care of 8,100 people who previously did not have a doctor and the replacement physicians prevented 14,500 people from losing care.
the city’s primary care clinic grant, launched last year, also allowed doctors at five clinics to add 6,000 patients and helped two clinics to retain 5,700 patients.
staff is aware of several family physicians planning to retire in the next three years and have identified six to seven family physician prospects interested in either taking over a practice or helping expand care at one of kingston’s clinics in 2025,” stated a report to council from craig desjardins, director of the city’s office of strategy, innovation and partnerships
city staff recognize that healthcare services are a provincial responsibility and that municipalities do not receive funding to finance healthcare services. unfortunately, municipalities have been pressured to address these health care challenges as they have local economic and social impacts.”
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city council is to consider the additional funding request at its tuesday night meeting.
elferguson@postmedia.com
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