In response to the ongoing physician shortage affecting our communities, Blanche River Health (BRH) President and CEO Jorge VanSlyke emphasizes the importance of collective action. In a recent letter to the editor of Northern News, she commended local leadership for advocating for systemic changes while highlighting the critical role of community-driven efforts in recruiting and retaining physicians. With significant challenges ahead, VanSlyke outlines how a renewed commitment from municipalities and a unified community effort can help secure the healthcare access residents deserve.

To the Editor:

I read with interest the recent article about the local physician shortage (Town urges province to recognize ongoing physician shortages, Northern News, November 6, 2024). 

I applaud Mayor Wight’s support for the joint resolution by the Ontario Medical Association and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, asking the Government of Ontario to recognize the shortage of physicians, to fund health care appropriately and to ensure every Ontarian has access to physician care. 

Her support complements local efforts currently underway to counter the physician shortage including the Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. The Committee works together to support local recruitment and retention efforts. Its volunteer members include Blanche River Health (BRH), the Blanche River Health Foundation (BRH), business representatives, multicultural groups and Family Health Teams. 

Recruitment and retention of physicians is a top priority for BRH, and significant investments have been committed to increasing access. While these costs are a strain on BRH’s existing deficit, a situation it shares with 90% of hospitals in Ontario, they are necessary. We are grateful to the three physicians who have recently joined BRH, bringing our complement to eight. However, we need nine more physicians to secure the access to care our communities deserve. And we need help to achieve this.

I recently had the pleasure to discuss our physician recruitment and retention efforts with the ten local councils that represent residents who rely on BRH. We discussed ways the Councils can support us. 

In various underserved Ontario communities, physician recruitment is a community-shared ambition, and calls for a community-wide effort.  Past support from the Town of Kirkland Lake when physician shortages greatly impacted access, helped secure the care we needed.

We need that level of support again, and I welcome the reinstatement of past municipal support of local physician recruitment and retention efforts. Funding for a new, full-time physician recruitment professional to the area would be a welcome move to address one of our community’s most pressing issues. It would also place us on more equal footing with communities that fund recruitment. 

There is no quick end to the physician shortage, and I know the community is tired after years of facing barriers when they need access to a doctor. By working together, I believe we can turn the tide and return to a strong local physician complement. 

Jorge VanSlyke
President and CEO
Blanche River Health1-866-274-7774
communications@blancheriverhealth.ca

About Blanche River Health

Blanche River Health is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas. Our mission is to make health care work for you. BRH values people and continuous improvement and we demonstrate this through accountability, respect, and courage to excel.