Family physicians are struggling to keep up with demand, Dr. Melanie Mar, a family doctor, lead physician for the Algonquin Family Health Team, and co-chair of a physician committee at Huntsville hospital told council on July 25.
“Our family doctors are maxed out and as our population is increasing, we’re really struggling to look after a fairly large and increasing unattached population. The wait time right now is about two years. So, if you come on board and you’re looking for a family doctor you’re going to probably wait at least that long,” said Mar.
An increasing number of people who have moved or are moving to the area as a result of COVID as well as those retiring to the area is putting further strain on an already fragile system, council heard.
“The unattached patient population in Huntsville is currently estimated to be around 1,700 and continues to grow with more people relocating to Muskoka,” stated part of a resolution submitted by Mar put before council for approval.
Mar said many patients are not receiving preventative care or help to manage existing chronic illnesses and they’re winding up sicker and seeking care at the hospital Emergency Room (ER), which is overwhelming ER doctors who are having to discharge patients who often wind up returning because they don’t have a family doctor to guide them after discharge. Others are having to travel out of town or rely on virtual care services which can be suboptimal.
“And so, in speaking with my physician colleagues we are trying to do our best to care for our community and looking at creative ways to do that,” said Mar who also noted that it’s a community problem that requires more than just the family physicians to solve.
“We all want to come together with different partners, not just family doctors but the hospital, the Ontario Health Team, and hopefully the Town and find creative ways to look after our community so that we aren’t sending all these people to Emerg…”
She said interim initiatives such as a year-round walk-in clinic are being explored while physician recruitment is ramped up.
Huntsville council agreed to support in principle any temporary measure to help alleviate physician shortages in the community and directed the CAO to continue working with “appropriate healthcare partners to determine the level of contribution required from the Town in order to support this initiative.”
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
Unclear what temporary help the Town is offering to fix an ongoing, growing, permanent problem. If the Town wants economic development and growth to continue, this is a cost of business that the Town needs to address and has apparently been ignored. Passing it on to the next council? Ask the candidates what they propose to do.
Noted above, that the comment “Ford and Smith will fix everything” was chalked up as sarcasm. The George Young comment about the council “actively pursuing doctors” for our local hospital, can likely be accepted as sarcasm too. Doug and his band of ‘toasted nuts’, have no intention (nor talent) for fixing the problem. They helped create it, and I guess my feeling toward both previous comments would be rueful cynicism.
I can only be sure that the recent, landslide acceptance of a party, who told us straight up they planned to do nothing, will go the way of other splashy victories. Eventually the populace will be looking for a rope, a wall, or a hole and a rock.
Now, DoFo and crew did hint at building a road to the ‘ring of fire’, a freeway across farmland, and a hwy. extension through wetland, hastening the possible extinction of several protected species. We even have our local MPP kicking in with an assault on turtles. To gain points with the big guy?
We can see and read about the accelerating demise of the ‘universal health care’ we once waved a Canadian pennant; our proud achievement.
Muskoka recently took a shot at ousting a PC party that has done little (or nothing) to help the area for many years. The big carrot item was two, full service hospitals, a half hour apart. Likely not for a couple more elections, but as Hugh Mackenzie enthused, parties look out for regions that support them! I said before that I don’t see the logic in the two hospital set up.
Hospitals, doctors, nurses and all other segments of our healthcare system are stressed and fraying. It makes no sense to be erecting bright, shiny, new buildings that, at present, we can’t staff.
It was a carrot only; it will be a carrot again.
It started out as BS and BS it will remain.
We don’t need buildings, Doug and Graydon. We need the people that make them tick.
Agreed, walk-in clinics are needed (not only in the summer months for tourists)
I’ve been living in Huntsville for three years now and started looking for a doctor before my move and I’ve yet to find one. I have to drive to Toronto to my family doctor for simple things like prescriptions. I get a letter in the mail every four months telling me it’s being worked on but to continue looking on my own. What am I looking for? A family doctor nearby that doesn’t exist?
To Susan Vtech: Your concluding comment, “I am confident that Mr. Ford and Smith will fix everything with our lacking health care system?” surely is sarcasm. Ford has had ample time to fix our lacking health care system! It simply isn’t a priority for him. If he has need for medical care, he gets it. He has money and power/clout. He needs to walk in the shoes for a substantial amount of time of a citizen (preferably one who doesn’t have a doctor or financial support). Then, he MIGHT empathize with us ordinary folks. Heck, he MIGHT even take action. However, there are many of us who won’t hold our breath for that to happen.
But, hey, he drives a truck and visits local businesses; what more can you want from him? (sarcasm)
Hire Nurse Practitioners! Yes!
Open a year round walk in clinic, Yes!
Both of these ideas would help with the Doctor shortage.
It would also take funds out of the pockets of our established family Doctors.
Remember, Doctors are a business. Patients are a sideline for success.
Cheryl perhaps you should have inquired as to just what services were available in Huntsville
before you moved here in 2021.
I have lost count of the times I have been advised by hospital staff that Toronto
is only a 2 hour drive. Like you said 12 hours return is more like it.
The hospital has no other choice but to redirect you to Toronto for services
lacking in Muskoka.
I am confident that Mr. Ford and Smith will fix everything with our lacking health care system?
Hire Nurse Practitioners!
I would strongly urge that you consider alternatives to doctor recruitment only. Having recently arrived in Huntsville (Aug. 2021) I’ve been told the wait is more like 4-5 years. I’m 7 so, may not live that long! My emergency room wait recently, when I was told to go immediately by my Toronto NP, who I drive 5 hrs round trip to see, was 12 hours. Told no, not accepting anyone for the waiting list, when I tried to register with a Nurse Practitioner here in Huntsville. Commute to Newmarket Pain Clinic weekly for 6-8 weeks ( minimum 4.5hr round trip if no traffic problems) when nicely told by Barrie, then North Bay Pain Clinic who considerately called me back, that they are booked until Dec. 2023. Drove to Minden for blood work – 2 hr round trip…What happens to all the children, the expectant moms, who have no options other than going to the ER? There are viable options to physician-centric health care and alternatives that we should be creatively and innovatively be investigating.
It is terrible that the healthcare in Muskoka is lacking. Being retired with a partner who is ill,unable to work forces us to go to the Emergency dept. In Huntsville and tax a fragile system is problematic, not fruitful and sad. We have been here 5+ yrs. and are waiting for more drs. to be available. Help!!
To George Young: I agree. And, housing needs to be financially accessible. Some people assume that doctors can easily afford a detached home. Lest we forget – most new doctors have debt/loans to pay off (years of schooling). I wonder too, how ‘The Town’ is pursuing / recruiting doctors to our area.
Full time Walk in clinics would help would be interested to know how the town is actively pursuing doctors to come here through whatever incentives they can offer.
Quite often the difference in deciding where to locate is determined by the facilities offered to the family. That’s why the recreational and educational opportunities should been given priority or expanded.
I’m sure a walk-in clinic would help. However, it seems that staffing it may be problematic.
7 day a week walk in clinics would help, days & aft particularity during tourist season.
Nurse practitioners to assist doctors.