Hub Staff

Saugeen Memorial Hospital will have a new Emergency Room doctor, Dr. Michael Pace, after a Physician Service Agreement was approved during the August 8 council meeting.

Pace is expected to start in October and stay continuously for a period of 60 months.
He was found by recruiter Peggy Zeppieri, a full-time recruiting specialist from the
Bruce Power Recruitment Committee. He will eventually stay in a Southampton property provided by the Society of Energy Professionals.

This is the Town’s second new doctor planned to come to Saugeen Shores in 2016. Dr. Julie Gibb will make the Dr. Earl Medical Centre in Port Elgin her workplace, has signed a 10 year agreement and will start practising this fall.

Mayor Mike Smith said the new doctors are very good for our community and thanked Zeppieri for her tireless efforts.

Councillor Mike Myatt, a member of the Physician Recruitment Committee, said that things were looking good doctor-wise for Saugeen Shores, stressing to Saugeen Shores residents so-called orphan patients, those without a doctor, could contact Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822. Health Care Connect is program that helps orphaned patients find a doctor or nurse practitioner. “One patient without a doctor is one too many,” said Myatt, adding that “help is on the way”.

Myatt said that according to Health Care Connect there are approximately 500 to 700 people in Saugeen Shores currently without a doctor and hoped that Dr. Julie Gibb will greatly reduce those numbers.

Councillor Dave Myette agreed that it’s good news that our community is attracting doctors, while pointing out that Bruce Power’s support and the full-time doctor recruiter is a “tremendous asset for our community”. He addressed the help from the Society of Energy Professionals and their efforts in providing housing for Dr. Pace. Myette called it “a key component to being able to attract quality doctors who are going stay for a long time.”

If you are currently an orphaned patient you can register with Health Care Connect here.