Joining Forces for Primary Care Strategy

Prince Edward will join with Hastings County in asking for a rural primary care strategy from Ontario.

Mayor Steve Ferguson’s resolution addresses the future of primary care in rural Ontario. It asks Ontario’s Ministry of Health for better access to primary care nurses and physicians and an integrated health system designed for rural communities.

Councillor Kate MacNaughton. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

“Addressing our needs and supporting those of our neighbours is critical to getting the attention of the Ministry of Health to help them understand what our community faces on a daily basis,” said the Mayor.

The municipality has been actively seeking family physicians through its Family Physician Recruitment Program, but  primary care requires more than doctors.

The resolution notes there is a need for office space and housing, “orphan” population management, and long-term regional and provincial system solutions. Improving primary care for rural communities requires a policy and planning lens adapted to rural contexts.

Councillor Kate MacNaughton noted the efforts to help service the County’s orphan population through preventative care clinics. “People are coming up with innovative ways to help residents while not running afoul of all the MOH guidelines over providing care,” she said.

New Councillors appointed to Board of Health

Councillors Phil St. Jean and Bill Roberts will replace Councillors John Hirsch and Kate MacNaughton on the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Board of Directors.

Councillors Hirsch and  MacNaughton resigned their positions during the public health nurses’ strike last month, citing the Board’s lack of transparency in labour negotiations with the two unions representing public health workers, the Ontario Nurses Association Local 31 and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3144. Within days HPEPH tabled new contracts for both employee groups.

In a deputation to Council, nurse Jen Ronan described the diminishing public health services in the County. When she started at Public Health two decades ago, said Ms. Ronan, there was a public office on King St. with regular business hours and staff available to answer questions. Now, the small office at the medical clinic on Bridge St. has no front-facing staff. There is a kiosk from which one call telephone the Belleville office for help instead.

“In the coming years, Public Health Units are going to be amalgamated to create larger organizations. Small communities like Prince Edward County will need strong voices to maintain their public health services,” said Ms. Ronan. “Voices like those of John Hirsch and Kate MacNaughton’s will be very important. Voices that will ask critical questions and are willing to go against the status quo to ensure fairness for all.”

-Jason Parks

Gazette Staff