A local task force is continuing work to bring more family doctors to Chatham-Kent.
The Chatham-Kent Physician Recruitment and Retention Task Force, represented by co-chairs Fannie Vavoulis and Denise Waddick, provided an update to municipal council members Monday night.
Chatham-Kent currently has 67 family physicians. Given its population, the task force says Chatham-Kent needs roughly 14 more.
The report shows over the past year, five family physicians have set up shop in Chatham-Kent – four with the Chatham-Kent Family health team and one with the Tilbury Family Health Team. Two former residents have also taken over the practice of retiring doctors.
Looking ahead to 2022, the Task Force plans to expand its online presence both through social medial platforms and its own website, and focus on a retirement succession plan.
The municipality has provided $100,000 per year since 2019 to fund the task force, but that agreement comes to an end in December 2022.