By Emily Stonehouse It’s not every day a new doctor comes to town. Actually, it’s fairly rare. The province-wide doctor shortage is a problem that is not isolated to our neck of the woods. But…
Physician recruitment nets two possible doctors for county
By James Matthews Haliburton County has reached out to the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruiter Alliance in its continued efforts to draw doctors to the region. Wendy Welch, the county’s physician recruitment coordinator, provided an update…
County looks to incentivise prospective medical staff
By James Matthews Incentives offered to lure medical professionals to Haliburton County are quite generous compared to what’s offered by other centres.Warden Liz Danielsen, the mayor of Algonquin Highlands, asked for council’s thoughts in June…
Long-awaited HHHS CT scanner now in operation
By Vivian Collings Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) can now CT scan patients right down the hall from the emergency room in the Haliburton hospital. Construction is finished, and the scanner has been operational for…
Cockwell family donates $500,000 to HHHS Foundation
By Vivian Collings The Cockwell Family and Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve have gifted the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation (HHHSF) $500,000 for their diagnostic imaging project at the Haliburton hospital. “We are honoured…
Hospital removes all agency nurses
By Thomas Smith As of May 1, Haliburton Hospital has removed all agency nurse staff. “Beginning May 1st, HHHS committed to no longer depending on agency staff. Not only does this decision align with Ontario…
Area public health boards petition province for merger
By James Matthews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Given their history collaborating, it only makes sense for the local and Peterborough health boards to merge. The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) and Peterborough…
Cultivating joy: The solution to the LTC crisis
By Vivian Collings Lurking in the shadows of crises in Canada are long-term care homes. During the Aging Together as Community’s conference last month, Dr. Pat Armstrong, professor of sociology at the University of Toronto,…
Many students comply with immunization record request
By James Matthews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The public health campaign toward updated student vaccination records garnered much compliance. The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit reminded parents and guardians of students that health…
Health board hears it’s time to accept COVID…
By James Matthews, Local Journalism Initiative ReporterWelcome to the new normal in communities under the umbrella of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit.Dr. Natalie Bocking, the medical officer of health and the unit’s…
Local health boards look to merge for better…
By James Matthews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) boards of health are going to look into how their communities will…
Public health unit takes steps against opioid crisis
By James Matthews, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Public Health District is about in the middle of all other districts when it comes to the number of opioid overdose related hospital…
County gets in line early for new ambulance
By James Matthews Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Haliburton County’s paramedics are getting a new ride. County council agreed during its Sept. 27 regular meeting to give pre-budget approval for a new ambulance. It will cost…
New COVID-19 variants aren’t as severe as previous…
By James Matthews Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Local public health officials are preparing for another “atypical” respiratory season. Dr. Natalie Bocking, the medical officer of health and the CEO at the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge…
HHHS Foundation AGM highlights 2022 year
By Emily Stonehouse The change in season brings on the yearly Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation AGM. The numbers in review were from 2022, with 2023 numbers still not completed until the end of the…
Hitting the road for healthcare
By Emily Stonehouse All aboard! The bus to stop closures and privatization of healthcare is taking off on Sept. 25 to head to Queen’s Park in Toronto for the day. “The camaraderie will be amazing,”…
Time to reform a new mindset
By Emily StonehouseThere’s more than one way to workout. In this day and age of social media, viewers are inundated with varying degrees of workouts, with some labeled as “bad” and others as “good”. It’s…
Minden ER permanently closing June 1
By Emily Stonehouse and Vivian Collings The Minden emergency room doors will be closing permanently on June 1, 2023. As of that date, all emergency services will be operating out of the Haliburton Hospital. “This…
COVID-19 requires public health response for foreseeable future:…
By James MatthewsLocal Journalism Initiative Reporter Dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the coronavirus’ evolution is a business case of sorts that illustrates the need for more provincial support of regional public health agencies.David…
Three years in: COVID’s impact on health care
By Vivian CollingsAlmost exactly three years ago, Ontario declared a state of emergency, closing schools, businesses, and advising against non-essential travel; even to the grocery store.Ontarians were limited to only having close interaction with those…
Top doctor tells local health officials to be…
By James MatthewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe region’s top doctor believes health boards need to remain vigilant, even as the coronavirus pandemic seems to be winding down.Dr. Natalie Bocking, the medical officer of health and CEO…