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Port Hope’s Walk-in Clinic is set to expand to seven days a week starting in 2026, following a full year of operation under its pilot program.
The expansion, supported by a successful fundraising campaign with the Port Hope and District Health Care Foundation, will increase weekly operating hours from 20 to 32. The initiative raised nearly $190,000, including matching funds, allowing the clinic to carry a $240,000 surplus into next year.
Currently, the clinic operates four days a week with physician staffing, and the planned expansion will see services available on weekdays and weekends. Nurse-practitioners will form a key part of the new staffing model, and there is optimism that new legislation may soon allow them to bill OHIP for certain services. Physicians will also provide coverage as available to ensure continuous care.
Mental-health supports will be strengthened in partnership with the Community Health Centres of Northumberland. County councillors have emphasized advocacy for nurse-practitioner billing and highlighted that local practitioners are eager to work in the community.
The motion to extend the Walk-in Clinic to seven days and to expand mental-health resources will be presented at the regular meeting of Northumberland County Council on September 17, 2025. The expansion represents a significant step toward enhancing access to local healthcare services while supporting the long-term sustainability of the Port Hope Walk-in Clinic.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
