Printed Mar 22, 2024 • Final up to date Mar 22, 2024 • 3 minute learn
The listing of Saugeen Shores residents looking for household physician is predicted to swell with information that two Southampton docs are closing their places of work. At the moment there are 471 ‘orphan’ sufferers on the Well being Care Join listing of sufferers who want a major care doctor. Photograph by Getty Photos
Article content material
Sufferers of two Southampton docs who had been informed they’re closing their separate practices this spring had been suggested to contact Well being Care Connect with discover a new major care doctor.
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.
Article content material
In separate letters to sufferers, Dr. David Billings stated he’ll cease seeing sufferers June 30, and Dr. Chad Burkhart stated after 21 years, he’ll cease seeing sufferers Could 31.
Each physicians have practices at 60 Albert St. South in Southampton, additionally the situation of their co-owned Drifting Sands Spa.
In a letter acquired by one affected person March 19, Dr. Burkhart stated his causes for closing his observe completely had been “many and complex” and the choice was not made frivolously he stated, realizing the “significant impact” it’ll have.
“I conferred with my local colleagues and unfortunately, none of them are in a position to take on more patients at this time in family medicine…” Dr. Burkart wrote to his sufferers, advising them to contact Well being Care Join.
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.
Article content material
Dr. Burkart enclosed a medical launch so sufferers might have their information transferred to a brand new supplier and stated pharmacies had been knowledgeable of the closure and prescriptions could be renewed for one 12 months.
Comparable letters had been despatched to Dr. Billings’ sufferers.
Phone calls to each docs for remark had not been answered on the deadline. An worker on the docs’ Southampton workplace wouldn’t say what number of sufferers are impacted or what number of letters had been mailed, commenting March 20 that the sufferers have all the data they should transfer ahead.
Dr. Billings has privileges with Brightshores Well being Programs at Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton, and Dr. Burkhart has privileges at Southampton, Wiarton, Owen Sound and Hanover hospitals.
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.
Article content material
Requested for a touch upon the docs’ bulletins and an replace on ongoing doctor recruitment efforts, City of Saugeen Shores communications specialist Brent Lanthier stated they had been “aware of the media reports that two doctors may be leaving Saugeen Shores. However, neither doctor has informed the Town they are departing,” he stated in a March 18 e-mail.
Lanthier stated the City continues its ongoing efforts to draw physicians to Saugeen Shores.
“We are also exploring a regional healthcare partnership – as outlined in the 2024 Business Plan passed by Council – to attract and retain more healthcare professionals by pooling resources with other municipalities” he stated including with a shrinking candidate pool for household physicians, Saugeen Shores is grateful “to those physicians who are here serving our residents and staffing the emergency room at Southampton Hospital.”
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.
Article content material
Lanthier pointed to an Ontario Faculty of Household Physicians web site publish that stated by 2026, greater than 4 million Ontarians won’t have a household physician.
The OCFP report stated components contributing to the scarcity of household physicians embrace the variety of docs anticipated to retire – 1.74 million Ontarians have a household physician over 65 and nearing retirement, a drop within the variety of household medication graduates coming into the occupation, and anticipated inhabitants development in Ontario.
The report stated the answer consists of guaranteeing all Ontarians have entry to household docs working in groups with different well being care suppliers, together with nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and social staff.
For sufferers searching for a brand new physician, Well being Care Join is a voluntary Ministry of Well being and Lengthy-Time period Care program to assist discover major well being care suppliers for Ontario residents who don’t have one.
This commercial has not loaded but, however your article continues beneath.
Article content material
A current announcement of $1.6 million in provincial funding for Bruce area stated 4,000 folks, so-called “orphan” sufferers in Durham, Markdale, Meaford, Owen Sound, Saugeen Shores and Wiarton will be capable to hook up with an expanded system.
Ministry spokesperson Hannah Jenson stated over 44,000 Ontario residents had been related to a major care supplier by means of Well being Care Join inn 2022.
“There are 471 patients from Saugeen Shores who have registered to the Health Care Connect program,” Jenson stated in a March 20 e-mail.
At deadline she was unable to say how lengthy they’d been ready, or how lengthy sufferers of Drs. Billings and Burkhart may need to attend earlier than discovering a brand new physician.
To make use of the free Well being Care Join service you should not have a household well being care supplier, and have a sound OHIP card and an up-to-date mailing deal with.
Join by visiting Well being Care Join on-line or name 811.
Article content material
Share this text in your social community
