(Queen’s Park) – On April 17, without warning, the McGuinty government imposed an ill-timed hiring freeze on doctors joining Family Health Teams.  

On May 11, PC Health Critic, Elizabeth Witmer, urged the Minister of Health to immediately lift this freeze to ensure the almost one million Ontarians without a doctor have access to health care.  

Witmer’s demand for lifting of the ban was supported by the doctors, physician recruiters and medical school staff who all agreed that the government’s hiring freeze jeopardized physician recruitment, at a time when hundreds of medical graduates are deciding where to practice.  

Now Witmer says Caplan must ensure FHTs are fully staffed. According to the Ministry of Health, as of December 31, 2008, only 32 FHTs had hired their full complement of approved interdisciplinary health care professionals such as nurses, nurse practitioners, doctors and dieticians.

“The McGuinty government has had six years to get Family Health Teams up and running. These practices will only fully meet patient needs once all of the health professionals are hired,” said Witmer. “I urge the McGuinty government to develop a timeline to ensure that all 150 Family Health Teams have a full complement of staff as quickly as possible.”

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For further information contact:

Elizabeth Witmer, MPP

(416) 325-1306