The new funding, which the province says will help connect just over 33,000 people to a primary health-care provider, supports Ontario health teams and primary care networks in Elgin, Middlesex and London. (David Donnelly/CBC – image credit)
With time running out on its goal of linking every Ontarian to a doctor or primary care provider by 2029, the Ford government announced on Friday that it would provide another $15 million to aid its efforts in the London area.
The new funding is expected to help connect just over 33,000 people to a primary health-care provider and supports Ontario health teams and primary care networks in Elgin, Middlesex and London.
This announcement follows the $5.3 million allocated for the region back in August and the $5.23 million declared for Oxford County earlier this week, all part of its broader Primary Care Action Plan.
“This is the preventative maintenance,” said Rob Flack, the MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, who revealed the funding during an event at the former CASO train station in St. Thomas on Friday.
“If we get this right, and we will, and we get everyone connected to their doctor, it’s going to relieve an enormous amount of pressure from our hospitals and allow them to focus on what they do best-providing care that isn’t primary care. That’s what our doctors, nurse practitioners, and organizations like the Thames Valley (Family) Health Team excel at.”
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(Thames Valley Family Health Team)
According to the Thames Valley Family Health Team, nearly $11 million of this funding will go to Middlesex County and London while Elgin County will receive $4.05 million. TVFHT is spearheading this initiative in collaboration with both Middlesex-London Ontario Health Team and Elgin Ontario Health Team.
“Since the pandemic began, our region has grown by over 40,000 people. It’s set to keep growing due to economic development initiatives from companies like Power Co, Vianode, Dr. Oetker among others,” Flack noted.
“We also announced $285 million earlier this week aimed at building new schools in our area because healthcare is key for everyone’s success as well as their wellbeing.”
Mike Mc Mahon, CEO of TVFHT was not available for comment on Friday but shared through Flack’s office that this funding enables them “to take a coordinated step forward in improving how people access and receive healthcare within their community.”
“[i]n service to our community, and together with our partners, we will buildand grow local healthcare teams so more people can connectto primary healthcareearlierand get thesupportthey needto livehealthier lives,” his statement read.
The province has put forth $3.4 billion into its Primary Care Action Plan so farand claims it achieved its first milestoneof connecting over300 ,000 individualswith a healthcare provider by March.
As of January , nearly two millionpeoplein Ontario did nothave aprimaryhealthcareprovider.
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