Still work to do with the area's doctor shortage

There was a major dent put in North Bay’s doctor shortage last week with the opening of a new medical clinic on Maplewood Avenue, but there’s still work to do.

Family physician Dr Paul Preston says Friday’s announcement of 3 new doctors to take care of up to 3,600 people is big news.

But the shortage still has to be addressed for many more patients who remain without a doctor.  

Preston says he can’t imagine not having a family doctor and so it’s incumbent on everyone to reduce that number of patients who are without a family doctor.

He says work will continue to cut that number down which stands at about 8,000 or so after Friday’s announcement.

Tiz Silveri, the North Bay Regional Health Centre’s Vice President for Clinical Services, says recruiting continues and despite the good news on Friday they are still not where they’d like to be.

She says they would like everyone to have access to a family care practitioner.