News release

More Funding to Support Healthcare Recruitment, Retention in Lunenburg County

Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment
OHPR Community Fund
health workforce
Action for Health

A Lunenburg County group is receiving support from the Province to recruit and retain healthcare professionals.

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore will receive funding to enhance current recruitment and retention efforts. The charitable organization will continue to strengthen ties and collaborate with community members and groups to support its work to elevate the healthcare experience for Nova Scotians on the South Shore.

“The dedicated staff of the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore are working extremely hard to attract and keep healthcare professionals in Lunenburg County,” said Economic Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek, MLA for Lunenburg, on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment. “This fund will support their efforts and take recruitment and retention in the area to the next level.”

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 plan to improve healthcare.

Quotes:

“As a foundation, we are passionate about elevating the healthcare experience for our communities. This funding will allow us to put into place recruitment, settlement and retention strategies that will showcase the South Shore as a desirable place for physicians and their families to come, practise and build a life. We believe that retention happens when people feel connected to their community, supported and valued for their contributions. With this funding, we aim to accomplish all three.”

– Martha Marchand, Physician Settlement and Retention Co-ordinator, Health Services Foundation of the South Shore

Quick Facts:

  • the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore will receive $75,200
  • 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