MINTO – The Town of Minto is making plans to include a $10,000 contribution to the Minto-Mapleton Health Professional Recruitment Committee in the 2019 budget.
Committee chair Shirley Borges and recruiter Andrea Serratore requested the annual contribution during an update on recruitment committee activities at the Feb. 5 council meeting.
During her presentation Borges noted the Township of Mapleton and the Palmerston and District Hospital both contribute $10,000 annually to support the committee.
A report from the committee explains recruitment strategies focus on increasing the number of family medicine residents and practicing physicians “interested in exploring what our area has to offer, in terms of both work and leisure.
“We continue to put Mapleton-Minto on the map as a great place to live and work,” the report states.
The report points out Dr. Christine Peterkin took the lead in organizing the inaugural Physician Charity Baseball Game last June, with physicians from Palmerston and District Hospital, Louise Marshall Hospital and Groves Memorial Community Hospital taking part.
“Many family and community members came out to cheer the teams,” the report states.
The report notes recently-recruited physicians Dr. Tamara Chu and Dr. Joanna Wielgosz are now settled into the Minto Rural Health Centre with their practices up and running.
The centre now provides office space for three physicians: Dr. Chu, Dr. Wielgosz and Dr. Doyin Okoye, as well as the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, Life Labs, CMHA Waterloo Wellington, Sheri Schiestel with the Family Health Organization, the local LHIN (care coordinators), St. Elizabeth Health and the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation. One space remains available for a future physician recruit.
Borges stated the past year was “particularly successful.”
She notes the addition this past year of Dr. Wielgosz, who previously spent time as a resident at the Mapleton Health Centre, along with the earlier addition of Dr. Chu, “have filled the incredible gap created when Dr. Cressey retired.”
The addition of Dr. Wielgosz gives the community a “record high” nine physicians, Borges told council.
“As our communities continue to grow, we remain committed to ensuring that we have enough capacity in Minto and Mapleton to meet the growing needs for primary care.
“We see this as a priority for 2019 and look forward to working with you to continue to address the needs of our growing communities.”
Deputy mayor Dave Turton commended the committee for its success in keeping local clinics staffed.
“We’re not suffering in this town. We’ve got that beautiful centre in Clifford and in Palmerston so we’re extremely lucky here,” he said.
Mayor George Bridge advised the delegation he anticipates Minto’s financial contribution will be included in the town’s 2019 budget.
