Thousands of people who need access to primary care in Peterborough are getting a helping hand.
At a press conference on Thursday, it was announced our region is getting over $3 million in provincial funding to allow the newly established Peterborough Community Health Centre help connect 11,375 people to primary care.
Programs and services will include comprehensive primary care, mental health services, and chronic disease management. The inclusion of culturally appropriate care provided by traditional wellness practitioners will be an important part of the centre which will also serve as a hub for coordinating social services, home care and working with health care and Indigenous partners in the community.
CEO of the Peterborough Family Health Team Duff Sprague says he is very pleased that the government is making this investment in primary care. Adding, the funding of a Community Health Centre will bring huge gains to our community and the significant provincial investment will deliver positive returns benefitting the entire healthcare system.
The money is part of a much larger $110 million pledge by the province, which will connect up to 328,000 people to primary care teams.
Another $20 million will provide a boost to all existing inter-professional primary care teams to help them meet increased operational costs for their facilities and supplies so that they continue to provide high-quality care to the people they provide care to.
OMA CEO Kimberly Moran says the association has been advocating for increased investments in teams to improve access to care and ensure doctors and health professions are able to do what they do best, care for patients. She went on to say this announcement to triple the original funding plan is a significant move in the right direction.