Saugeen Shores is getting a new full-time ER doctor at Saugeen Memorial Hospital.
Council has approved a working agreement with Doctor Steve MacKinnon, who is currently completing residency at the University of Toronto.
Council was told MacKinnon has agreed to re-locate to Saugeen Shores and provide full-time Emergency Room coverage as of August, 2012.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith says the addition helps fill in an area that has been short-staffed since the fall when another ER doctor decided to go back to school for further studies.
Smith admits the ER in Southampton was closed on a number of occasions of closing during the summer because of a lack of physicians.
Doctor MacKinnon has agreed to a 12 month commitment focused solely on emergency medicine obligations.
The doctor’s agreement came through the efforts of the Bruce Power Recruitment Committee and the town.
Doctor MacKinnon spent this past fall in Kincardine completing an elective in rural family medicine.
James Scongack — the Head of Corporate Affairs at Bruce Power — also sits as chair of the joint doctor recruitment committee.
He says they are very pleased to have Doctor MacKinnon on board.
Physician recruiter Peggy Zeppieri says the job never ends, as they try to match future needs with available physicians.
