Number of Ontarians without family doctor increases [Video]

There are now 2.5 million people in Ontario without a family doctor, an increase of more than 160,000 people in the last six months.

“I’m really fortunate to have the same doctor and he’s a good one,” said a viewer of CTV News while on an excursion along the river.

Not everyone is as lucky. According to Windsor Regional Hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Wassim Saad, between 30,000 to 40,000 people in the Windsor-Essex area are without a primary care physician.

“It’s not uncommon for our E.R. doctors to hear this from patients when asked, who’s your primary care provider? Who can you follow up with in a few days or in a few weeks? And their answer is they don’t have anybody,” Saad said.

Ontario College of Family Physicians acknowledges the province has invested in primary care teams to help reduce the workload. But, the group suggests moving faster …