Executive Director of the Bancroft Family Health Team Sandra McGrath has outlined the options available for people without a local family doctor.
While the nine doctors working with the Bancroft Family Health Team are continuing to work with their patients by the phone or, if needed, in-person, there are some in the community that do not have a family doctor.
Bancroft IDA offers the “Good Doctors Clinic” service. A phone line and texting service is available for free that will help patients be screened. McGrath says you need to call ahead and be screened before seeing them in-person. You can call 1-888-397-7138 or text 705-910-7799.
Shopper’s Drug Mart offers a service called “Maple” which helps you connect with a doctor via phone, text or video. McGrath notes there may be a cost associated with using this service.
“We want to make sure the department is available for those urgent sicknesses and that people aren’t going with minor issues,” she says. If you’re feeling unwell, but it’s minor, McGrath says to call BFHT or one of the aforementioned services and they will direct you on what to do next.
“The Family Health Team is still seeing people, whether by phone or in-person visits if needed,” she adds. “If you have a physician with the family health team, then you should be calling us if you’re feeling unwell.”