As part of its $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to ensure every Ontarian has access to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team, the Ontario government is investing $5.3 million this year to connect up to 12,675 people in Elgin-Middlesex-London to care. This is part of a broader effort to connect 300,000 people provincewide in 2025. MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London Rob Flack was in Mount Brydges Wednesday at the Southwest Middlesex Health Centre to bring the news.
The Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT), in partnership with eight Family Health Organizations, a Community Health Centre, and a Family Health Team, has received funding to match more residents with a primary care provider. Targeting specific neighbourhoods, Care Connectors will link groups of patients with available providers more efficiently, improving local access. TVFHT will soon launch a process for accepting new patients and will share details with the community.
This funding will also assist neighbouring indigenous communities and Oneida Nation of the Thames Chief Todd Cornelius says the benefits are very apparent.
This funding follows a provincewide call for proposals aimed at communities—identified by postal code—with the highest rates of residents lacking primary care, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist. Each funded team has a plan to attach a significant share of unattached patients within a year.
Mary Hay Executive Director of the Southwest Middlesex Health Centre in Mount Brydges says this couldn’t have come at a better time.
The investment is part of Ontario’s plan to add over 300 new primary care teams across the province, including $235 million in 2025–26 to support more than 130 new and expanded teams. Hay says they are ready to expand.
Hay says as far as next steps, if they get the money they will start renovations immediately with the hope to take on new patients as early as January.
Written by: C. Soares