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Access to primary care in Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County is set to improve significantly, thanks to more than $3.4 million in new provincial funding.
The Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team, in partnership with the Kawartha North Family Health Team, will use the funding to expand interprofessional primary care teams and connect up to 6,902 residents to a primary care provider. The funding is part of Ontario’s $2.1-billion Primary Care Action Plan, which aims to attach 300,000 more people to primary care this year.
New care hubs will be added in Coboconk, Woodville and Minden, strengthening team-based care across rural and underserved communities. “This investment…is a vital step toward connecting thousands of local residents to the care they deserve,” said MPP Laurie Scott. “By building on existing infrastructure, this initiative will enhance access to publicly funded, high-quality primary healthcare.”
The plan focuses on postal codes with the highest number of residents without primary care, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist. Each approved team has pledged to attach a large proportion of unattached patients within a year.
Marina Hodson, Executive Director of Kawartha North Family Health Team, called the investment “a game changer for patients,” adding it reflects a strong community collaboration.
The province is funding more than 130 new and expanded primary care teams this year. Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the move is part of Ontario’s long-term plan to ensure residents have access to convenient, team-based care closer to home.
The KLH-OHT will establish a process for new patient intake and share details with the community in the coming months.
