Like many small towns in Nova Scotia, Parrsboro is actively hunting for family physicians, and in an effort to lure a particular husband-and-wife team it did things a little differently. Not only did the town send a letter encouraging the potential candidates to practise there, more than 1000 of the town's 1600 residents turned out to sign it.
Parrsboro Mayor Doug Robinson said the local hospital was going to send a letter to the doctors, but the idea that it should come from the entire town took hold. Unfortunately, even though the campaign impressed the 2 physicians, who had a practice in nearby Truro, family commitments in Scotland were a higher priority, and they returned there.
Parrsboro remains 1 of 5 communities participating in the province's rural incentive program. Frank Peters, the province's physician recruitment coordinator, says doctors who agree to set up shop are guaranteed minimum billings of $162 000 a year for 5 years, a $10 000 bonus each year for 5 years, 50 hours of CME and a $5000 moving allowance.
He said almost every town that has participated has eventually had a family physician sign on the dotted line. — Donalee Moulton, Halifax