Three family doctors coming to Kawartha Lakes through new recruitment funding

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Access to family doctors in the community is expected to improve, after the City of Kawartha Lakes council approved $300,000 in funding, to help recruit three new physicians to the area, during its May 19th meeting.

The funding will go to the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHCI) to support return-of-service agreements, signed by three family doctors who have committed to practising locally for several years.

In a report to council, Chief Administrative Officer, Ron Taylor said, the investment is part of the municipality’s long-standing effort to improve access to primary care.

“Providing this funding, for doctor recruitment efforts, directly contributes to the goal of improving the health and well-being of residents,” Mr. Taylor stated in his report.

Dr. Jim Osoba Ebhomien is expected to open a full-time family practice in Lindsay, in 2026, under a six-year agreement. The recruitment incentive attached to that agreement totals $150,000.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dennis Owusu Darkwa and Dr. Joana Loretta Sarfo joined the Kawartha North Family Health Team, earlier this year, and each signed four-year agreements, to provide comprehensive family medicine services in the region. Incentives for those agreements total $100,000 each.

The total value of the physician incentives is $350,000, with KLHCI contributing $50,000 from its own existing funds while the City covers the remaining $300,000 through its Primary Care Recruitment and Retention Reserve.

Mayor Doug Elmslie said, attracting and retaining doctors remains one of council’s highest priorities.

“Access to primary care continues to be one of the biggest concerns we hear from residents,” Mayor Elmslie added. “These agreements are an important step forward and show what can happen when the municipality, health care partners and community organizations work together.”

The report noted, the reserve was established specifically to support physician recruitment and retention efforts in the municipality.

Council also formally recognized the efforts of the KL Family Health Organization for operating expanded after-hours clinics, for residents without family doctors between 2023 and 2026.

According to the report, the clinic provided more than 9,000 visits for unattached patients, during the two-year City-funded period, along with an additional 4,500 visits during the preceding unfunded year.

Many of those patients, otherwise, may have sought care through hospital emergency departments.

“The KL FHO doctor team should be recognized, commended, and thanked for their expanded service delivery to unattached patients, locally,” Mr. Taylor wrote.

The City provided a total of $516,000, to support the after-hours clinic expansion during that period, as the community faced growing pressure on access to primary care.

With additional local programs now being introduced, to support unattached patients and improve physician access, the clinic is expected to transition back to mainly serving its rostered patients.

Several councillors voiced support for the investment during discussion, at the Tuesday, May 19th meeting, noting physician recruitment continues to be one of the most pressing concerns facing residents.

Residents attending the meeting also welcomed the news, as Lindsay resident Marie Thibault called the physician commitments “encouraging for families who have spent years searching for a doctor.”

“It gives people hope that health care access is finally improving,” she said.

Fenelon Falls resident, Peter Wallace said, the after-hours clinic had become an important resource for many residents.

“A lot of people relied on that clinic because they had nowhere else to go, except the emergency room,” he said. “The doctors who stepped up deserve credit for helping the community.”