Local family doctor shortage a real concern says hospital president

The president of the North Bay Regional Health Centre says the shortage of doctors in this area has become a very real concern.

Paul Heinrich says that finding specialists isn’t a problem, it’s attracting family doctors.

He says a death and retirements of doctors that did very high volumes have changed it from a real problem to a crisis.

The Local Health Integration Network has asked the Health Ministry to designate the entire northeast as an under serviced area to get preferential treatment in attracting more family doctors.