Council agree not to compete with other Niagara cities, as staff prepare report on ways to do this
The City of Thorold is embarking on a plan to hire four more family doctors.
Council passed a motion by Councillor Nella Dekker, to have city staff will come up with that plan, which will be included in the 2025 budget.
Council agreed to collaborate with other Niagara municipalities, and not take doctors from them, or compete.
Councillor Henry D'Angela says they've done this before. "We also drew up a list of citizens that were actually looking for a doctor. So that we have the demand there... yes, we're underserviced, but how much is the demand there that you really need to satisfy."
Councillor Anthony Longo added grants need be given to young people thinking of medical school.
"And then come to our community when they graduate. I know it's a long term goal to get there, but if we had looked at this 20 years ago, when this was a problem, we'd have a number of doctors who were born and raised in Thorold."
Council saw stats showing the number of doctors has dropped in recent years due to retirement, and the city lacks about 7 doctors.