Successful pilot project plans to take 1,750 people off wait list for doctors

New doctors are on the way and a successful rostering pilot project is expected to take 1,000 County residents off the wait list for seeking physicians.

This good news was followed up with a new ask for $75,000 to invite three more new or existing physicians to take another 750 patients with a County home address off that list.

Council approved, and the ask moves to the next council meeting Tuesday, April 23 for ratification.

Adam Hambly

Adam Hambly, recruiter with the County’s Family Physician Recruitment and Retention Program told councillors at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting that the pilot project for four $25,000 physician premiums approved last fall had a larger interest than expected.

Last fall the Health Care Connect (HCC) wait list (operated by the province) had increased to 2,000 people from Prince Edward County, but that number, Hambly noted, is still considered a gross under-representation of residents without a family doctor.

Hambly suggests there are more likely some 5,000 people in the County without a family doctor who are not on the list.

The official list number he expects will likely spike again once people realize large numbers are coming off the list.

The budgeting ask of the municipality would grow to $425,000 versus the $350,000 currently budgeted.

This year’s budget renewed $250,000 toward the County Docs’ third year of operations and the pilot project ask of $100,000.

The pilot offered four lots of $25,000 to any new or existing physicians willing to take on 250 patients from the HCC list. (This is separate from the five year return of service incentive and could be accessed independently, or concurrently.)

Hambly explained last fall that the shortage of doctors is the primary reason for the slow movement of the wait list, but there’s also a labour intensive and time-consuming process to onboard a large number of new patients at one time, requiring significant administrative and clinical support. Doctors operate as independent businesses and must pay for administrative work.

County Docs has recruited six physicians (confirmed or expected) in its first 20 months of operation.

Doctors Dineen and Branton arrived in January while Drs. Blackbyrne, Lee and Marlow are expected to arrive in May, September and June. A doctor yet to be named is also set to arrive this year.

Hambly expects to update on the return of service incentives as part of the 2025 budget request in the coming months, to reflect the number of doctors recruited, and expected number of vacancies to fill.

The Ministry of Health allows 23 physician spots to Prince Edward County. There are currently 16 physicians and their office staff working with the Prince Edward Family Health Team, supported by  nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, dietitians, and other clinical and administrative professionals in five different clinic locations; four in Picton and one in Wellington.

However, there are seven vacancies with four departures – retirements – confirmed for 2024.

Hambly stated services for patients without a doctor – cancer screening, hospital discharge follow-up and the new-born program – are filling some gaps.

The two new one-day community clinics, in Picton and Wellington that opened at the end of February have cared for 136 residents who needed primary care, referrals to specialists and referrals to internal health team programs.

The clinics are available 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in Picton at 35 Bridge St. Suite 1 and 2 and Thursdays in Wellington at the Sandbanks Medical Centre located at 12 Prince Edward St.

Phone lines will open on Mondays from 1p.m. to 4p.m. and then on Tuesdays from 8:30a.m. to 4p.m. Residents can call 613-827-8775 to book an appointment or book online by visiting www.pefht.ca