It's hoped thousands of people in Huron-Bruce who don’t have a family doctor will be connected to one this year, thanks to new provincial funding.
The Ontario government has announced just over $3 million for three local health teams. The Brockton and Area Family Health Team will receive the largest share, at just over $1.1 million, followed by the Kincardine Family Health Team, with just over $1 million, and the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre, with $858,000.
“Access to primary care is essential for the health and well-being of our communities here in Huron-Bruce,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson,. “I’m pleased to see these three primary care teams receiving funding through Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, as this investment will help strengthen local health care by ensuring more residents have timely access to the care they need, close to home.”
The money is part of Ontario’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan, which aims to connect 300,000 more people across the province to primary care in 2025 alone. In Huron-Bruce, about 6,850 residents are expected to benefit.
“We are continuing to build on our government’s record investments, which have helped secure Ontario the highest rate of access to a regular health-care provider in the country,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We are protecting Ontario’s health-care system and people’s access to convenient care by funding new and expanded primary care teams across the province, helping connect everyone in Ontario to a primary care provider.”
The funding follows a competitive process that prioritized communities with the highest number of residents still waiting for care. Local Ontario Health Teams and Primary Care Networks helped shape the successful proposals to ensure the investment targets the biggest gaps.
The Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team said the impact will stretch across the region.
"On behalf of the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team and Primary Care Network, I’d like to sincerely thank Lisa and her team for being here today to announce this provincial investment that will connect over 4000 residents of Grey Bruce to Primary Care over the next year,” said Dr. Kelly Fenn, Co-Chair of the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team and Chair of the Primary Care Network. “Through this funding, eight organizations will receive funding to expand access and attachment to primary care in Kincardine, Brockton, Meaford, Thornbury, Flesherton, Saugeen Shores, Listowel/Wingham, and the North and South Bruce Peninsula.”
Primary care teams bring together doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, and other professionals in one setting, making it easier for patients to access a range of services close to home.
The province has also opened another round of applications for primary care funding as of September 22.
