Sen. Somers continues push to retain, recruit CT health care professionals

(CT Mirror)

Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, ranking member of the Public Health committee, said she’s spent six years beating a drum for the state to boost recruitment and retention efforts for nurses, doctors, certified nursing assistants and other medical professionals.

Last week, the state Republican Party laid out its priorities on the issue, including increased access to mental health care; support for the mental health workforce; addressing the “youth mental health crisis” and improvements to screening and support for maternal mental health.

But, Somers said, “We’re not going to allow them to forget we need physicians, too.” 

Mental health services are one of many things the public health committee will be looking at this session, she said.

“When you talk to pediatricians, when you talk to primary care, they are dealing with people with mental and behavioral issues,” Somers said. “It needs to be all hands on deck looking at the most critical aspects in health care, with a primary look at behavioral health and mental health and a commitment to moving needle in the right direction.”

https://ctmirror.org/2022/02/03/exhausted-health-care-workers-seek-long-awaited-legislative-relief/