Our community is getting a significant boost in healthcare access as the Ontario government announced an investment of $2,019,200 to help connect up to 4,762 unattached patients to primary care services in Peterborough City and County.
The funding will support partnerships involving four local healthcare organizations: the Peterborough Family Health Team, the 360 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, the Peterborough Community Health Centre, and the Peterborough Newcomer Health Clinic. Together, these partners will work to ensure residents who currently lack access to a family physician or primary care provider can get the care they need.
"This investment to enhance local healthcare access showcases our government's absolute commitment to connecting everyone in our region to primary care," said Dave Smith.
The announcement is part of Ontario's broader Primary Care Action Plan, an ambitious initiative aimed at connecting every Ontarian to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029. The Peterborough Family Health Team was among 124 teams selected through the latest call for proposals under this plan, which collectively is expected to connect an additional 500,000 patients to primary care across the province.
Duff Sprague, CEO of the Peterborough Family Health Team, called the announcement a significant investment in local healthcare. He explained that the funding will expand the organization's Connect Clinic, allowing patients to access care from family physicians, nurse practitioners, and a pediatrician while they wait to be permanently attached to a primary care provider.
The local partners will establish a streamlined process to accept new patients and communicate these opportunities to residents currently without access to primary care. This coordinated approach aims to reduce wait times and ensure no one in our community falls through the cracks when seeking essential healthcare services.
The province reports that it has already exceeded its 2025-26 target under the Primary Care Action Plan. While the goal was to connect 300,000 Ontarians to primary care by March 31, officials say 330,000 people had already been attached to care by January 1, surpassing the target by more than 30,000 patients.
For the nearly 4,800 residents in Peterborough City and County who will benefit from this investment, the funding represents more than just numbers—it's about access to preventive care, chronic disease management, and the peace of mind that comes with having a trusted healthcare provider who knows your medical history.
