Business Retention and Expansion Study for Collingwood's
Medical/Health Sector

Final Report - July 2008

Section 3

The Medical/Health sector identified Collingwood’s advantages and disadvantages within the community.

Advantages to Collingwood:

• location, Collingwood is viewed as being a perfect environment

• a healthy lifestyle

• year round amenities

• small town atmosphere

• diverse community

• friendly and personable businesses

• people who are supportive

• many opportunities for new businesses

• outstanding staff at local hospital

• great primary care from local medical and health care providers

Disadvantages to Collingwood:

• high cost of commercial space (buy and/or lease)

• limited inventory of commercial property in acceptable zoned areas

• loss of personal anonymity

• difficulty making friends

• a bureaucratic, restrictive local zoning authority, particularly with respect to new locates to build drugstores, clinics or other health care offices

• over reliance on the resort economy

• lack of overall affordable housing inventory (purchase or rent)

• low paying jobs in the resort/retail sectors

When specifically asked what the Town of Collingwood could offer, the most consistent response from respondents was the hope the Town would advocate to higher tier governments on behalf of the Medical/Health sector. For example, the hospital needs more alternative long term beds, increased hospital beds from its current 68 beds, more support services (such as an MRI and pediatric clinic, additional support staff (nurses) specialists and other health practitioners, including a pediatrician, child psychiatrist, board certified psychiatrist, gerontologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, neurologist.

While Collingwood is identified as having sufficient doctors, in reality, and according to the 2006 Canada census information Collingwood’s Medical/Health providers serve a growing population in excess of 60,000 area residents. Further, and on any given long weekend, the community sees hundreds of tourism visitors to the area, often with our population increasing in excess of 100,000 plus.

As necessary, the heavier load of tourism visitors are typically served through the G&M Emergency Room, resulting in increased wait times. As noted earlier in this report, approximately 30,000 were served at the G&M E/R in their 2007 fiscal year. Moreover, many current medical practitioners offer abbreviated hours, or are semi retired. Other practitioners are not accepting new patients, except under exceptional circumstances. Consequently, some area residents have limited access to regular health care or a permanent primary care physician. They are served by the after hours clinic staffed on a rotation basis by members of the local family health team.

This sector indicates when the individual concerns are considered cumulatively, the result is an overall negative consequence to Collingwood, with a continued growth in the gap in providing fundamental health care services to those most in need or at risk.

Despite the family health care team, the walk in clinic and the other services offered by the local Medical/Health providers, some local residents fall through the gaps – including the under-employed, welfare recipients, seniors and the disabled.

“Communities that view their citizens as their greatest asset and invest in the development of their full potential are those that will have the capacity to effectively compete in the global political, social and economic arena.”

David Littrell




Back To Section 3 Menu