The Huron Community Family Health Team has successfully recruited one doctor and is hoping to secure one more by the end of the summer.
In an update to Huron East council, Kelly Buchanan of the Family Health Organization said they've recruited one doctor from Iran to help replace retiring members of the team.
"We have indeed secured one physician for the two spots that we have vacating at the end of August," she told council. "The doctor is a Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) physician that will be coming to the area... so our initial push for recruitment has gone very well and now we'll be looking for that second spot."
Buchanan said their other candidates for the second spot are new graduates that could be doing fill-in work over the summer before a decision is made.
The doctor recruited through PRO is required to stay with the team for three years, and after that, she can go anywhere in Ontario.
Buchanan told council after that, it's about establishing an environment that makes them want to stay.
"I just hope that we have created such a good team and supportive environment that we want to make it very hard for anyone to leave," she said.
Buchanan told council the doctor's husband will remain in the Toronto area this year while their son finishes high school, but after that, the expectation is that they'll move to the area.
"We're hoping that that's a good indication they'll be here to stay," she said.
Buchanan also updated council on the FHT's Brussels clinic, which has been closed for months due to staffing shortages.
"We will be staying in Brussels for the time being as well. Now that we've secured that one spot, we're feeling confident about carrying on with Brussels. We're right now in a bit of staffing crunch but we've working through that. We've done some hiring and we're hoping to back in Brussels very soon."
The Family Health Team asked for some relief on their rent due to the clinic being closed, which council is considering.