Fort Erie mayor says Niagara Health accuses elected officials of inflamming the public over urgent care cuts
An invitation has been extended to Premier Doug Ford and his government to visit Fort Erie and Port Colborne and see the need for the urgent care centres.
Speaking this afternoon at Fort Erie town hall, Mayor Wayne Redekop revealed Niagara Health does not have a plan to recruit more doctors.
He said that's what police or fire departments do when needing staff. "And you could work with the municipalities, that are in your catchment area, all of whom have physician recruitment programs. We've had one for 25 years, I believe Port Colborne is the same, we've got very successful programs."
He, alongside Mayor Bill Steele and MPP Wayne Gates called for around the clock service to be restored.
Port Colborne's mayor is worried his town and Fort Erie are being considered after thoughts by Niagara Health.
Bill Steele adds services should not be pulled from communities that need them. "But here's the reality... the training that physicians need to work in these centres isn't readily available. These doctors shared with us the process to get qualified is so complex, and so time consuming, it's become a barrier to them. If the required training isn't accessible, what was the point of Niagara Health asking us to help just three weeks ago.."
MPP Wayne Gates added pressures are coming with summer tourists.
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