Niagara Region has made significant progress in addressing the physician shortage over the past year, with the net addition of 16 family physicians since January 2024, resulting in a net increase of 15,527 patients receiving access to primary care. This improvement reflects ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services throughout the region, ensuring that residents have timely and equitable access to family doctors. This figure reflects the addition of 26 new physicians over the past year, offset by 10 who left practice during the same period.
The largest gains were seen in St. Catharines (+8 physicians, +5,910 enrolled patients) and Welland (+6 physicians, +8,086 enrolled patients), with Niagara Falls also experiencing a net increase of two physicians, providing care to an additional 1,041 patients. These successes highlight the effectiveness of recruitment and onboarding strategies and the importance of expanding the physician workforce.
While most municipalities have experienced stability or growth in physician numbers, continued attention to areas like Niagara-on-the-Lake and Thorold will be crucial to sustaining this positive trend and further strengthening access to care across the region.
This positive momentum is the result of collaborative efforts between municipal partners, healthcare organizations, and recruitment initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining physicians across Niagara.
In November of 2024, the Region hosted a community roundtable that brought together 35 community leaders and experts, who explored new ways Niagara can work as a team to bring even more family physicians to the region. Results from the roundtable were shared with Regional Council on March 20, and included a host of key findings that will help inform the creation of a long-term Physician Recruitment Strategy for all of Niagara.
Residents who are looking for a family doctor are encouraged to visit Niagara Region’s Find a Doctor webpage for available resources and support in connecting with a physician.
Quotes:
“Timely access to a family doctor is a necessity for a healthy and thriving community, and I am pleased to see the progress Niagara has made in bringing new physicians to the region. Thanks to the ongoing collaboration and joint efforts of the Region, the area municipalities, our health care system and many other partners, more and more family doctors are choosing Niagara as the place to set up practice, and I look forward to seeing continued success in this regard over the coming year.” - Jim Bradley, Niagara Regional Chair
“Attracting and retaining family physicians is a priority for Niagara Region, and this growth is a key step toward strengthening our community. By ensuring access to primary care, we are helping create a healthier, more vibrant region where residents and businesses can thrive.” - George Spezza, Director of Economic Development
Niagara Region Family Physician & Patient Growth Data
Total for Niagara Region (February 2025)
Family Physician Count: 252
Enrolled Patient Count: 345,435
Net new Physicians: +16
Net new enrolled Patients: +15,527
Fort Erie
Family physician count in January 2024: 12
Family physician count in February 2025: 13
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 24,349
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 24,248
Physician change: +1
Patient change: -101
Grimsby
Family physician count in January 2024: 20
Family physician count in February 2025: 20
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 25,064
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 25,254
Physician change: 0
Patient change: +190
Lincoln
Family physician count in January 2024: 17
Family physician count in February 2025: 17
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 22,590
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 22,655
Physician change: 0
Patient change: +65
Niagara Falls
Family physician count in January 2024: 34
Family physician count in February 2025: 36
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 55,342
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 56,383
Physician change: +2
Patient change: +1,041
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Family physician count in January 2024: 11
Family physician count in February 2025: 10
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 12,343
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 11,957
Physician change: -1
Patient change: -386
Pelham
Family physician count in January 2024: 13
Family physician count in February 2025: 13
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 14,503
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 14,609
Physician change: 0
Patient change: +106
Port Colborne
Family physician count in January 2024: 9
Family physician count in February 2025: 9
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 11,185
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 11,116
Physician change: 0
Patient change: -69
St. Catharines
Family physician count in January 2024: 76
Family physician count in February 2025: 84
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 102,864
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 108,774
Physician change: +8
Patient change: +5,910
Thorold
Family physician count in January 2024: 14
Family physician count in February 2025: 13
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 19,431
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 18,570
Physician change: -1
Patient change: -861
Wainfleet
Family physician count in January 2024: 0
Family physician count in February 2025: 0
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 0
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 0
Physician change: 0
Patient change: 0
Welland
Family physician count in January 2024: 22
Family physician count in February 2025: 28
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 31,997
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 40,083
Physician change: +6
Patient change: +8,086
West Lincoln
Family physician count in January 2024: 8
Family physician count in February 2025: 9
Enrolled patient count in January 2024: 10,240
Enrolled patient count in February 2025: 11,786
Physician change: +1
Patient change: +1,546
Data for family physician and patient counts is sourced from the Ministry of Health’s Data Analytics Branch