We have a doctor. YEA!
Last fall before we left for Arizona we placed our name on a waiting list for a new doctor in Bancroft. We had no idea who he or she would be or when their practice might open. Today we had our interview and were accepted. This is great news as we both liked the new doctor from the start and now we will no longer need to take the three hour drive back to Brampton to visit our former doctor when medical needs occur.
For those living outside of Canada and reading our blog you may know very little about our health care system here. For years Canadian families never had a problem finding a doctor to care for them and accept them as patients. Doctors were plentiful and health care was taken for-granted. It was free and you went only when it was a medical emergency. You didn't abuse the system but it was always there when needed.
About 25 years ago Canadians started to experience a doctor shortage. Part of the shortage was due to the fact that 50% of the doctors who graduated from Canadian medical schools never set up practice in Canada, they went south where the wages were better and working conditions more favourable for a young doctor just getting started.
The greatest shortage here is in our smaller rural communities who find it difficult to attract young graduating doctors.
Recently the Ontario government along with the medical school here introduced a new program that would address this rural shortage. Medical students who were willing to return to their rural communities were given opportunities to enroll in a new program that emphasized the uniqueness and challenges of medical care in small Canadian communities.
Our doctor had been a physiotherapist for 15 years but always wanted to be a GP (general practitioner) He must have had tremendous family support because he enrolled, was successful and now he is here in Bancroft and into his second week of practice.
We are delighted and grateful for the program that made this possible.
If you are reading this but living outside of Canada maybe you have some questions or would like to share how health care is provided where you live. We look forward to hearing from you.
Oh, by the way; the pictures at the top of the page were taken January 16, 2008 when we first looked at property in Bancroft. They show the hospital where our health clinic is located. The Bancroft hospital is a small 10 bed hospital.
Thanks for stopping by.
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I guess we will probably experience this doctor shortage here after a few years of socialized medicine, if it passes.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, whats with the snow pics. So not allowed ok!
ReplyDeleteArt and Mary I am sure you will be so thrilled with the health care in our rural areas. We can attest to that in so many regards. The doctors are so dedicated. The line ups are almost nonexistent and referrals for specialists are so fast. Others ready your blog may well wonder at a 10 bed hospital but it works !!! We are so blessed with our health care system. Jeff has his life thanks to our small community hospital. They're first class.
ReplyDeleteHi Art and Mary, I'm glad to hear of your doctor. You guys are lucky up there, down here you have to be wealthy to be able to afford health care.
ReplyDelete