Province invests $6M to connect Simcoe County residents with primary care doctors

Medical tools are pictured in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary, Friday, July 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

The province of Ontario says it will be spending $6 million to connect 20,000 residents in central Ontario with a publicly funded primary care doctor.

The funding will go toward proposals previously submitted by the Barrie Community Health Centre and Barrie and Community Family Health to help connect those in need with a doctor or nurse practitioner.

“We know that access to primary care is foundational to better health outcomes and a stronger health system,” said Kim Vickers, executive director of Barrie and Community Family Health Team.

“This funding will allow us to expand access for unattached patients and continue building an integrated approach to care alongside our community partners,” Vickers added.

The province claims its added nearly 20,000 physicians to its health care workforce since 2018.

“Our government is taking steps to protect Ontario’s health care system and access to convenient local care by expanding primary care teams across the province and in our region,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie, Springwater, Oro-Medonte.

As part of a larger $3.4 billion investment, Ontario says it hopes to connect approximately 2 million people to a primary healthcare provider by 2029.

Ontarians seeking a family doctor or nurse practitioner can call 811 for more information.