The “incremental steps” government is taking to make changes to try to attract physicians to the Bonavista hospital are not enough, and town council is taking its own action, but government needs to meet them half way.
That’s according to Mayor John Norman who says the town is giving serious consideration to offering its own incentives to physicians, including serviced building lots for $1 dollar and its own signing bonuses.
Norman says it’s beyond him why government is willing to pay the salaries and associated costs for locums, while local physicians would be willing to take positions locally if the salary and working conditions were right.
(Bonavista Mayor John Norman)
Norman is not sure how it will work, but he says they have to do something.
He wants government to meet them halfway and match some of the bonuses they’re considering.
Health Minister Tom Osborne says physicians in many Category B facilities have already seen an increase through negotiations with the NLMA.
He calls it a significant increase in pay negotiated just last month.
In the meantime, Osborne admits recruitment has continued to be a challenge in the area. They’re currently looking at establishing a collaborative care clinic in Bonavista, which may help.
He says a collaborative care clinic would lighten the load for physicians in the ER, which in turn should help in the recruitment of emergency room physicians.
