New Clinic Coming to Oakwood-Vaughan Community in Toronto
Ontario Investing in More Nurses, Social Workers and Dietitians Across the Province
Ontario is helping people access health care services closer to home in the Oakwood-Vaughan area, with a new clinic that will provide preventative care and social supports for people living in poverty, isolated seniors, vulnerable youth, non-insured patients and people with complex mental health issues.
Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was at the future site of the Oakwood-Vaughan satellite clinic today to announce the province’s support for the new facility and highlight investments in more nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, dietitians, physiotherapists and other health care professionals across the province.
The new clinic will help nearly 1,000 residents in the community with high needs access regular health services from a doctor, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, social worker and health promoter.
Ontario is making new investments to improve access to primary care across the province including:
- Additional funding for nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, dietitians, physiotherapists and other health professionals
- New and expanded health care teams, which provide a teamwork approach to primary care
- Better coordination for complex patients through the Health Links initiative, which brings health providers together as a team to quickly connect care.
Minister Hoskins also announced that the province is increasing its investment in recruitment and retention of health care professionals across Ontario.
Ontario is increasing access to care, reducing wait times and improving the patient experience through its Patients First Action Plan for Health Care and OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare – protecting health care today and into the future.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is investing $1.6 million in Unison Health and Community Services to create a new satellite clinic improving access to primary care services in the Oakwood-Vaughan community.
- In the 2017 Budget, Ontario committed $146.3 million towards recruiting and retaining health care professionals for primary care teams by 2019-20. This is in addition to the $85.6 million committed in the 2016 Budget.
- Ontario is now committing another $97.3 million investment in 2020-21 to recruit and retain health professionals, bringing the total investment to $329.2 million over five years.
- The province is also investing $102 million over three years to support the expansion of interprofessional primary care teams. In 2017-18, more than $15 million is being provided to create new or expand existing interprofessional care teams so that all 76 sub-regions across the province have a team.
- The province is providing $23 million per year over three years to improve care coordination for complex patients through the Health Links initiative.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“Our government is committed to ensuring all Ontarians have access to high-quality primary care, closer to home. Supporting Unison Health and Community Services to improve health care options in the Oakwood-Vaughan community is an important and significant step in achieving this goal.”
“Working collaboratively with the Ministry of Health, the Toronto Central LHIN, and community partners has allowed Unison to bring together innovative health care for youth and those facing barriers in Oakwood Vaughan.”
Michelle Joseph
“Today’s investment is the result of a strong partnership and collaboration between local providers and the community here in Oakwood-Vaughan. I’m confident that this additional clinic will be a valued resource for patients, families and caregivers because of how involved this community was in its creation. As part of our mandate to ensure care is patient-centred, the Toronto Central LHIN is pleased to be supporting the health care needs here in Oakwood Vaughan.”
Susan Fitzpatrick
