Doctors, hospital funding and public notices: What happened at Quinte West council’s Aug. 12 meeting

Quinte West council dealt with a mixed bag of municipal and regional issues during its Wednesday, Aug. 12 meeting. Here’s a round-up of key topics covered.

Lower Trent says pay up

The Lower Trent Conservation Authority increased the annual take from Quinte West Council by $22,117.80. Council agreed the increase was justified because the conservation authority is needed for a variety of reasons, such as water levels.

Director recaps goings-on at youth centre

Christine Akrong, executive director of the Quinte West Youth Centre at 2 Wooler Rd., says things have been hopping since the spring of the year, having provided an exciting program for youth up to 19 years of age. The centre served 103 youths and 1,379 meals overall.

What’s up, Doc?

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – a term that has gained popularity at all three levels of government – regarding recruitment of family doctors, is adding Northumberland County to its fold. The municipality (including Brighton) will join Quinte West, Belleville, Prince Edward County and Hastings County in an agreement that stops municipalities from poaching incentives on each other as they try to lure family doctors.

Kingston gets cash

Quinte West Council has anted up $270,000 over three years for the newly coined Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), an umbrella group that covers Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hosputal. QW contributes as KHSC is the cancer and vision centre for this area and as such treats a significant number of Quinte West residents.

Diagnose doctors

Quinte West has restated its “The Medical Student” agreement, which sees student doctors receive a total of $175,000 over five years subject to certain conditions, including training of one medical student annually.
As well, medical graduates must practise in QW for a minimum of five years and service a roster of at least 1,000 patients.

The Medical Student agreement covers the five municipalities that penned the Memorandum of Understanding – QW, Belleville, and Hastings, Prince Edward and Northumberland Counties. Again, this is to stop a municipality meddling in each others’ doctor prospects. Northumberland includes Brighton.

Notice to residents

The thorny problem of how to get out word of goings on in Quinte West was broached now that area newspapers have been killed by Postmedia – The Trentonian, Community Press and County Weekly News.

Traditionally, Quinte West municipal issues such as land use notices have been advertised in the newspapers so the public could be aware and comment.

Council mentioned putting the business on its website, but that will not reach the majority of residents in Frankford, Trenton and Murray and Sidney townships.

Perhaps online publications such as Quinteist will be used.

Council decided to mull the matter over.