TREATY THREE TERRITORY – NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) released the following statement after Ford made even deeper cuts in funding for physicians in Red Lake:
“Today brings another round of tough news for Red Lake – we learned that there will be further funding cuts to health care staff, which will make the physician shortage even worse and wait times even longer for people in need of care.
The Emergency Room in Red Lake was forced to close last year due to a lack of health care providers. Now, they’re losing another full-time physician role, which will further impact services, drive up wait times, and reduce ongoing care for a community that urgently needs more care providers – not less.
The Ford government is continuing to ignore urgent calls for more doctors in Northern Ontario, and acting as though there are no consequences to their irresponsible funding cuts. The consequences are very real – and Red Lake is about to face them once again.
How much worse does it have to get before Ford corrects course? I am calling on him to do the right thing and reverse these cuts immediately. The Ontario NDP has been standing up for public health care across the province – and we will continue to ensure that these services are protected and strengthened.”
Background
Red Lake received funding for seven physicians through the Rural Northern Physician Group Agreement (RNPGA). There is now funding for just six – a change that will have a devastating impact on the ability to recruit and retain physicians. By October, they are projecting just four full time staff
Among other impacts, the clinic is advising the community to brace for:
- Shorter appointment times
- Closure of the Saturday morning urgent care clinic
- Delays in communication, prescription renewal, insurance forms, etc
- Increased ER volumes and wait times
- Reduced outpatient procedures and recovery support