May 29, 2024
Premier Ford leaving Sault Ste. Marie residents high and dry
QUEEN’S PARK — Official Opposition NDP Health critic France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) questioned Minister of Health Sylvia Jones about her plans for the 10,000 residents of the Sault Ste. Marie who are losing their family doctor on Friday.
“Mike is a 76-year-old resident of Sault St Marie. Mike has diabetes, he is a two-time cancer survivor. Last year he underwent a heart procedure. Mike now needs frequent consultation with his doctor to manage his recovery and new medications. On Friday, Mike, his daughter, 2 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and 10,000 more Sault Ste. Marie residents will lose their family Doctor. What is the Minister of Health plan to help the good people of Sault Ste. Marie?”
This week there has been a flurry of media coverage drawing attention the dire state of healthcare in this Northern Ontario community.
“Murray and Eunice Patterson were some of the first patients of the Group Health Centre back in 1964. They are now 92 and 88 years old with mobility and other health issues but on Friday, they are losing access to their Doctor. It doesn’t have to be that way. The Group Health Center has submitted solutions and alternatives to this Minister, but they did not even get a reply. 10,000 people in Sault Ste. Marie are losing access to their family Doctor on Friday and no answer, no plan, no action, nothing from this government.
How can that be?”