Physician policy updated

Caledon council recently adopted amendments to its physician recruitment policy which expired Dec. 31, 2006.

Since its adoption three family physicians have been recruited.

Council approved $25,000 in this year's economic development and communications department budget to support the recruitment of family physicians.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's records indicate there are 22 family physicians currently practising in Caledon. With a 2006 Census population of 57,050, Caledon should have 41 family physicians. The Town is therefore 19 family physicians short of the recommended physicianto population ratio of 1:1,380.

Each physician recruited must be qualified to practise medicine in Ontario, must practise full time (minimum 35 hours), must practise in Caledon for for a minimum of five years and must accept a total of 1,700 new patients during the first five years of practice.