District of Carleton North Mayor still waiting for response from Horizon, government
At a recent council meeting, members of the District of Carleton North Council expressed their frustration with the lack of response regarding proposed health initiatives.
Council contacted the Department of Health and Horizon Health Network six months ago at Dr. Stuart Lockhart’s urging. The district requested assistance developing a collaborative healthcare program within the Carleton North Medical Clinic.
The newly constructed clinic has space for four full-time practitioners. It also has the potential to adopt a collaborative care model that offers various services, including physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, and other specialists. The collaborative model was proposed as a way to deal with the ongoing healthcare crisis in the region.
District of Carleton North Mayor Andrew Harvey told councillors that, unfortunately, the district has not had any response from either the government or Horizon Health.
“We’re unfortunately no farther ahead than we were in March when we petitioned the government for help,” lamented Harvey.
The district has been providing incentive initiatives, such as rent subsidies and other investments, to assist with the clinic’s operation.
“We have the facility, but we need the government to step up and help fill it. It’s crucial. It’s a crisis now and it’s only going to get worse as more doctors retire,” Harvey stressed.
The mayor noted that new doctor hires are not taking on the same caseload as more experienced doctors, which adds to the problem.
“It takes two doctors to replace everyone that we lose,” he said, adding that a collaborative care model would help ease the burden.
Stressing again that healthcare is a critical issue for the region, Harvey urged all residents to voice their concerns to their local candidates in the upcoming provincial election, encouraging those putting their names on the ballot to make healthcare a priority.
Earlier this month, Liberal Leader Susan Holt announced her party would open collaborative care clinics in the most urgent areas, including one in the District of Carleton North.
