Councillors in the Town of Port Hawkesbury have heard a presentation on doctor recruitment efforts from officials with the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
Grayson Fulmer, the senior director of medical affairs, made a presentation and answered questions at March’s regular town council meeting Tuesday night.
After the meeting, Brenda Chisholm-Beaton, the town’s mayor, said councillors asked Fulmer to come.
Chisholm-Beaton said they learned what NSHA officials are doing for recruitment, and also how they can help.
“When we do have a doctor that’s being brought into our community, how can we participate?” she said. “Since we know our community the best, we can do a great job of helping that potential doctor feel welcomed.”
Chisholm-Beaton said town officials can showcase what the area has to offer in terms of schools and education opportunities, sports and recreation, and culture.
She said there is one current vacancy in the town, but more could be coming.
“We do have several physicians that could be retiring in the next five or more years,” she said. “I think at that point we would definitely be in crisis mode trying to figure out how are we going to replace those positions.”
Chisholm-Beaton said they want to work with their NSHA and Department of Health and Wellness counterparts to be proactive in the recruitment process.
She said they’ll prepare materials that help promote the area- not just to physicians, but to their spouses and children as well.
