04/02/2025
There have been recent communications to patients impacted by Arnprior Family Health Team retirements, which we understand have led to uncertainty in the community and questions about our next steps.
Our physicians have dedicated years to supporting patients, improving health outcomes and alleviating the burden on other parts of the healthcare system, such as the local hospital. Just like the rest of the workforce, physicians must determine the right time in their lives and spend quality time with loved ones after their many years of service.
Currently, Ontario has a significant physician shortage, with media reports estimating that there are at least 2.3 million people in Ontario without a family physician (OMA, January 2024). The Ontario Government released its plan in January 2025 to connect every person in Ontario to primary care. We have regularly communicated to Ontario Health the crisis that our growing community and retiring physicians has created for the Arnprior community. We anticipate working more closely with the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, Health Force Ontario, and Ontario Health Teams to recruit more physicians and/or additional healthcare resources as their plan unfolds.
Locally, the Arnprior and District Family Health Team and the Physician Recruitment Committee have been working diligently to raise funds, plan for space requirements and attempt to recruit physicians. We have represented our community at primary care recruitment fairs in Quebec, and at Ottawa U. We also sent two physicians to Manchester and London, UK to attend recruitment fairs. We have had some interest, and we have addressed every enquiry to the fullest of our ability, arranging tours, and discussions with the physician team.
Unfortunately, we are also competing with every other Ontario community for a scarce resource. We remain focused, however, on exploring every opportunity to attract physicians to our beautiful town and are in the process of expanding recruitment into the US market. To be successful, we need the support and understanding of the community to recognize the contributions of our physicians and to create a space where new physicians would love to live and work.
If you have any questions, comments or want to support the physician recruitment efforts, please reach out to us at administration@arnpriorfht.ca
Learn about Ontario’s historic investment and action plan to connect every person in Ontario to primary care by 2029.Download PDF
