North East Grey Health Clinics Inc

WHO ARE WE?

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North East Grey Health Clinics Inc. (NEGHCI) is a non profit corporation formed in May 2007 by concerned community minded citizens to raise funds for, build and operate self sustaining Health Clinics. The corporation was formed by citizens who participated in our community Physician Recruitment Committee, and who realized that something extra was required.

Meaford Hospital, a medical gem in our community, can only function with the support of sufficient numbers of Primary Care Family Physicians. Simply put, we do not have sufficient physicians in our communities: two of our doctors retired in 2007 and our population is expected to double in the next 5 – 10 years.

The catchment area served by the Meaford General Hospital, which includes the Town of the Blue Mountains and Meaford, has been deemed as Under-serviced by four Physicians by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. This is a serious shortage of Doctors.

We tried for several years to attract new family doctors. Although we came close on a few occasions, we never succeeded. Time and again, we have heard the message that the absence of a health clinic virtually guarantees that we will not be able to recruit new doctors. The majority of New Primary Care Family Physicians want to practice with colleagues in a clinic setting without having to be concerned about being the landlords, being the accountants or being the facility managers.

Good health and good access to health care in our community is attainable if we work together on this challenge. Without health clinics, our community will not be served by sufficient doctors to keep our hospital going. Too many of us are orphan patients now, and with new residents flocking to our community, the situation will only get worse.

Formal fundraising started with our official kick-off event on July 19, 2008. Our target to fund both clinics is $4.2 million, with a minimum of $500,000 required before we can start construction. As of Fall 2008, we are well on our way to achieving this goal, with donations and pledges in excess of 1.2 million dollars.
Our Board is actively working with other community group representatives. Discussions are well under way with the municipalities and volunteers are welcome and being recruited.
Negotiations between the Town of The Blue Mountains and a land developer are in the final stages. The site plan and design for the first health centre are nearing completion, and we hope to begin construction before year end. Our ultimate goal is for the Blue Mountains clinic to open its doors before the end of 2009.

As soon as the first health centre is up and operational, work will begin on the second health centre. A committee has already been struck to find a suitable location in Meaford, for the second centre. That clinic should be ready to attract new doctors just when retirement begins to reduce the number of Meaford based physicians.