By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The community covered by Cobourg, Port Hope and the Townships of Alnwick-Haldimand, Hamilton and Cramahe are the first in all of Ontario to achieve an important milestone – to have all their residents’ names on the Health Care Connect databank accounted for as far as a primary-care provider is concerned.
Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin made the announcement at Cobourg council this week, giving credit for the success to the West Northumberland Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee.
The recruitment of Dr. Shazaad Ali and Dr. Malik Awan to Port Hope took care of 900 patients, Seguin said, and they continue to accept new patients – just in time for the retirement of Dr. Lino Durante. Another physician is expected, adding space for 1,500 patients.
Seguin noted that Health Care Connect is currently running a survey to help identify primary-care needs, and invites anyone without a primary-care physician to log on and offer his or her input.
