The province says it’s allocating more than $900,000 in funding to three sites in Sarnia-Lambton, to continue operations of urban and rural access to care centres.
The one-time funding of $910,000 will help to bolster the continuation of a joint collaborative between Rapids Family Health Team, Central Lambton Family Health Team and North Lambton Community Health Centre that had its beginnings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team (OHT) said in a news release.
The funding is part of a $110 million investment announced in February, which aims to connect more than 300,000 people to primary care teams across the province, the OHT added. In Sarnia-Lambton, currently more than 10,000 residents do not have a primary care provider.
“We are thrilled to receive this crucial funding in support of the access to care centres in Sarnia-Lambton,” said Sarnia-Lambton OHT executive lead Nadine Neve.
“Increasing capacity and access to health services is vital for our growing community, particularly for those who do not have a primary care provider.
“We look forward to continue building on the partnerships we developed throughout the pandemic and fostering a healthy community through equitable access to care.”
The announcement was made by MPP Bob Bailey, Friday.
"The Ontario government is making record investments in public health care to ensure that everyone that wants a primary care provider can connect to one close to home," Bailey stated. "This investment in our local health teams will help to support nearly 7,000 vulnerable, marginalized, and unattached patients in our community access primary care where and when they need it."
This will enhance capacity in both the urban and rural sites, located at 481 London Rd. in Sarnia and 596 Broadway St. in Plympton-Wyoming, allowing more patients to be seen in a timely manner, the Sarnia-Lambton OHT added.
Planning will target the expansion of the Wyoming site to increase operating, as well as the expansion of services at Rapids Family Health Team Access to Care. Funding will bolster main supports, including nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses and Allied Health professionals.
“The funding that we are receiving from the Ministry of Health will not only be a benefit to the residents of Plympton-Wyoming, it will also assist those in rural Lambton,” said Gary Atkinson, Mayor, Plympton-Wyoming.
“As we know, primary care providers are an essential and important part of our health care system. This funding will not only help expand the access to primary care for those in need, but will strengthen those services already in place.”
The TD Plympton-Wyoming Wellness Centre is home to many of those services and we look forward to continuing and expanding them.”