The town of Rainy River has a meeting with the Ministry of Health regarding the loss of its physicians.
Two doctors are ending their practices at the end of October, with a third staying on until the end of November.
A funding dispute with the Ministry is said to be blamed.
Mayor Deborah Eward says she was not aware until one of the doctors posted their decision on social media.
Ewald calls the situation for her community dire.
“It’s just a terrible, terrible thing that’s happened,” says Ewald.
“There needs to be some significant changes in order because, otherwise, people are going to die. It’s that dire.”
Riverside Health Care has accessed locum coverage for the emergency department at Rainy River Health Care until November.
Once the doctors leave, the clinic, which is owned by the town will sit empty unless new physicians can be found.
Ewald says she was able to address the state of healthcare in the Rainy River District with the Minister of Health Sylvia Jones during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa.
She has also huddled up with area mayors and First Nations leaders for meetings with Riverside.
Ewald feels the system put in place is just not workable anymore.
“People are afraid. They’re nervous. It’s just not a good situation,” says Ewald.
“These people have lived in this area their whole lives. They’ve paid their fair share of taxes and everything, and now, all of a sudden, when they’re in their old age, the healthcare is kind of being pulled out from underneath them.”
