Summer Edition: Healthcare on municipal election ballot in Northumberland

Most voters in the municipal election may not realize healthcare is on the ballot this October. Doctor recruitment is a critical issue. Finding a doctor or nurse practitioner can be a real challenge for those without. Municipal taxes fund recruitment. Each municipality in Northumberland County contributes to the doctor recruitment efforts. The Ontario Health Team Northumberland is one of many agencies that connects patients with a primary care provider, either a doctor or nurse practitioner. In May, it announced the team helped 1,600 people find one. The health team is developing its next five-year strategy and is undertaking a survey. It wants to know what matters most in your community and the barriers people face. It also wants to improve things. County residents have until September 4 to complete it. In this July interview, Ram Puva, Executive Lead for Ontario Health Team Northumberland, explains how to connect with a primary health care provider. If you missed it the first time, it is a good chance to catch up. With so many people asking how to connect with a doctor, this is a chance to become better informed. So, take a listen.