Ontario family health teams are calling for increased funding to retain nurses and other health professionals, as they warn that crucial support for primary care is deteriorating amidst efforts to improve healthcare access.
Ontario's healthcare system is striving to connect every resident with a primary care provider, yet family health teams are sounding the alarm over the sustainability of this goal due to dwindling resources for essential health professionals. These teams, which encompass doctors alongside various allied health professionals, are critical for delivering holistic care. However, they argue that government funding has not kept up with inflation or competitive salaries available in other healthcare environments, jeopardizing their efficacy and ability to expand services.
Particular concerns have been voiced by the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario, highlighting that nurse practitioners and physician assistants can earn significantly higher salaries in hospital settings—$20,000 and $30,000 more, respectively. These salary discrepancies are creating a competitive disadvantage for family health teams, leading to challenges in attracting and retaining skilled professionals. The situation has placed immense pressure on these teams as they attempt to meet growing healthcare demands while facing financial constraints.
The call for increased funding is urgent; without financial stabilization, family health teams warn that merely expanding services or attaching more Ontarians to primary care providers will be ineffective. They stress that maintaining a stable workforce and ensuring adequate support and resources are critical to the success of Ontario's healthcare strategy, and further investment will determine the ability to provide quality primary care services in the future.
