New primary care funding for Chatham-Kent (CK) will assist thousands more patients in finding a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones announced $1.6 million on Thursday to connect nearly 3,300 additional patients to family physicians.
The Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team stated that this provincial funding will enable local integrated health teams to hire 18 new staff members throughout the municipality. These include nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, and dietitians.
Dr. Briana Yee-Providence, a Family Physician with the CK Family Health Team and the Physician Co-Chair of the CK Ontario Health Team Primary Care Network, explained that this funding will lighten the load on doctors, allowing them to take on more patients, spend more time with each one, and enhance long-term health outcomes.
“It allows me as a physician to do the things that I need to do as a physician. It allows me to give people that have that skill set to be able to provide that care and support to my patients so that I can do the things I need to do as a physician, making more complex medical decisions, spending more time with patients,” said Dr. Yee-Providence.
Joan Hackett, Board Chair of the CK Family Health Team and a patient herself, shared her struggles after losing access to primary healthcare when her family doctor retired years ago.
“For minor prescriptions, we ended up in the ER and preventative care faded from our routine. For families like ours, it can be inconvenient; but for those with complex medical conditions, it can be overwhelming as health deteriorates,” Hackett said.
The CK Family Health Team anticipates considerable primary care challenges over the next five to ten years since many family doctors are nearing retirement age.
Hackett mentioned that this staff funding will help current family doctors receive necessary support while they work on recruiting replacements for those retiring.
“We have been fortunate to attract five new physicians over the past two years; however, we had to say goodbye to four others due to retirements and relocations. That is why this expansion funding is so important. It allows several of our existing physicians to take on additional patients now,” noted Hackett.
The new funding is also expected to lower unnecessary emergency department visits for non-urgent health issues, relieving pressure on hospitals while improving patient outcomes and streamlining operations within the system.
Denise Waddick, Executive Director of the Thamesview Family Health Team, mentioned that their goal was initially set at attaching 2,900 patients during this current round of funding ending in July; however it has almost doubled with approximately 5,400 patients targeted now. She believes the new funds could increase numbers from 3,300 up toward 5,000 or even 6,000 by May 2027.
At present nearly 22,000 residents in Chatham-Kent lack a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Ontario aims for every resident connected with a family doctor or nurse practitioner by 2029.
Since 2024 Chatham-Kent has received nearly $4 million aimed at enhancing access to primary care services.
The CK Ontario Health Team has also reported that Bridge Care-its clinic designed specifically for unattached patients-will assist in identifying complex individuals while guiding them through the healthcare system by coordinating follow-up care and linking them with suitable resources while ensuring consistent primary care delivery.
Click here if you don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner or call 1-888-579-6707 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a. m. and 4:30 p. m., or email Health Care Connect@ontariohealthathome. ca.
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