The town says it's working with Niagara Health, including doctor recruitment incentive program
The Town of Fort Erie still pushing forward with Niagara Health, to keep the urgent care centre open after the South Niagara hospital opens in 2028, or find another solution.
Chief Administrative Officer Chris McQueen tells us for the time being, Niagara Health's approach is there are fewer people needing services overnight. "And, so, the few people that might go there with lower acuity issues, they have capacity to move them through for the night. It's just once people are waking up for the day, seeking health care, they're overloading the ER's."
The hours of the urgent care centre were reduced to day time hours only, due to the need for doctors at other Niagara area hospitals.
The town is still doing what it can to recruit doctors.
He says they have an incentive program, in which a doctor receives $75,000, provided they stay five years, or return of service. "If physicians are prepared and trained to work in the urgent care centre, we would consider a reduction of up to 1 year of the return of service. So, the return of service would be reduced to 4 years, because they are serving after hours."
He adds they've recruited two new doctors in 3 years, still needing another 5 or 6.
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