The Mayor of Carbonear says while he’s pleased with measures Eastern Health has taken to improve access to family physicians in the region, more needs to be done.

The Health Authority has opened a new family practice clinic at the Carbonear General to help address a shortage of family practitioners in the Trinity-Conception region.

Eastern Health has also doubled the number of physicians at the ER in Carbonear during peak hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Mayor Frank Butt is applauding the move, but says a lot more work needs to be done to fill the gap.

“We’re not there yet,” says Butt. They’re going to work with Eastern Health to make sure the needs of local residents are met.

Butt says the town is working on ways to make the community more attractive to newcomers and those looking to settle in the area.