The Province is supporting the Municipality of the County of Richmond, the Town of Port Hawkesbury and community groups in the area as they work to recruit and retain healthcare professionals.
Cape Breton South Recruiting for Health, which includes representatives of the municipalities and community partners, will receive funding for promotional campaigns and community events, such as outreach to local residents enrolled in the Dalhousie University family medicine residency program, newcomer socials and recognition events.
“The dedicated volunteers and staff of Cape Breton South Recruiting represent many organizations in our community with one common goal: ready and reliable healthcare in Cape Breton South,” said Trevor Boudreau, MLA for Richmond, on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “The residents of Richmond County and Port Hawkesbury should not have to cross the causeway or head to Sydney to get the basic healthcare they need.”
The funding is from the government’s new Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund. A total of 28 groups across Nova Scotia applied by the December 19 deadline, and more successful applicants will be notified in the coming weeks.
The fund, worth $2 million in total, is among the recruitment and retention initiatives outlined in Action for Health, the Province’s strategic plan to improve healthcare.
Quotes:
Our organization works hard to support healthcare professionals in Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury, so we are thrilled to have this funding to advance our efforts. Showcasing our unique communities and helping healthcare workers feel welcome and appreciated are key to attracting new people and ensuring they want to stay.
Gina MacDonald, Program Director, Cape Breton South Recruiting for Health
Quick Facts:
- Cape Breton South Recruiting for Health will receive $74,287
- organizations across the province could apply for up to $100,000 from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund
- to be eligible, community organizations had to be a registered society, association, non-profit or charity; municipalities and chambers of commerce were also eligible
- two funding streams were available: community identified projects and community readiness supports; groups could request funding from one or both
Additional Resources:
Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-funding-recruit-and-retain-healthcare-professionals-ohpr-community-fund
Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/
Mandate letter of the Minister of Health and Wellness and Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf
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