Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury are not giving up on a Cape Breton healthcare initiative after a huge cut to its funding.
Cape Breton South Recruiting for Health, Program Director, Gina MacDonald confirmed at a Port Hawkesbury council meeting that annual community funding of $2 million was cut by 20 per cent, which is a $400,000 provincial cut.
She explained their goal is to recruit and retain medical professionals and that this area does not get enough recruitment strategy focus.
Deputy Mayor Todd Barrett explained why healthcare is an important piece of a municipality.
“If you’re going to attract people, people need healthcare, it’s part and parcel to the growth of a community. So, you know, a healthy community, you need that for the future,” he expressed.
Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton says although municipalities aren’t the key drivers for finding and keeping medical healthcare, the Town has put funding behind it.
“In Cape Breton South, so Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury were happy to roll up our sleeves [and] figure out a way that we can impact positive change on the R&R, which is the recruitment and retention of medical healthcare staff,” she shared.
The Cape Breton South Health Infusion project initiative was also created to lure American doctors and healthcare professionals to Canada.
MacDonald said considering the political situation in the United States, a lot of them have made it clear that they will be to make their move to Canada permanent.
She’s created new recruitment packages that give a first impression and share about the community to attract and retain potential new medical professionals.
