Northern York South Simcoe OHT News
Partnership between Georgina NP-Led Clinic, NYSS OHT and Southlake brings new children’s care clinic to Georgina
Families can now access care for children aged 6 months to 18 years without a referral, making healthcare more accessible
GEORGINA, ON – October 11, 2024 – The Georgina Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (GNPLC), the Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team (NYSS OHT), and Southlake are excited to announce the opening of a new Nurse Practitioner-Led Children’s Care Clinic in Georgina. This innovative clinic, funded by the Ministry of Health, will open its doors on Tuesday, October 15, offering primary care services to children and youth aged 6 months to 18 years, ensuring care is provided closer to home.
“We are thrilled to be part of this exciting partnership that brings much-needed primary care services to children and youth in Georgina,” said Beth Cowper-Fung, Clinic Director, GNPLC. “The opening of this clinic is a significant step forward in improving access to healthcare in our region, ensuring families can get the care they need closer to home.”
The clinic addresses urgent but non-life-threatening conditions such as cough, colds, flu, fever, headaches and minor injuries, providing high-quality, timely care for families within the Georgina community. Appointments can be easily booked through a central system, with no referral required, ensuring convenience for families seeking care.
“We’re proud to be part of this important partnership that will make healthcare more accessible for families in Georgina,” said Gayle Seddon, Executive Director, Community Strategy & Operations, Southlake. “This clinic will bring vital healthcare services closer to home for our youngest patients and help to reduce the strain on emergency services.”
The clinic is a result of a novel partnership between GNPLC, NYSS OHT and Southlake, which reflects a shared commitment to improve local health services. It is also in line with the NYSS OHT’s strategy to bring quality care closer to home and support families in accessing timely, coordinated care in their community.
“The opening of this new clinic exemplifies our commitment to bringing care closer to home for families in Georgina,” said Dr. David Makary, Co-Chair of the NYSS OHT. “Through partnerships like this, we are working to bridge gaps in healthcare services and provide accessible, high-quality primary care to children and youth in the region. This clinic will have a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of our community.”
Clinic Details:
Location: 443 The Queensway S, Unit 30, Keswick
Opening Date: Tuesday, October 15
Eligibility: Children and youth aged 6 months to 18 years
Booking Information: Appointments can be made through a central booking system No referral is required. Please visit http://care-clinics.ca/.
There is no fee to access the clinic. If patients have a family physician, there is no penalty for seeking care at the clinic.
Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team receives support for Interprofessional Primary Care Team
On February 1, 2024, the Ontario government announced an investment of $110 million to help connect more than 300,000 people to primary care.
The Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team issued the following statement in support of the announcement:
“We are thrilled to receive support for our Interprofessional Primary Care team, which will help improve access to care in our communities. The population served by the Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team has exploded at nearly twice the rate of the provincial average, leaving more than 30,000 residents without access to primary care. Today’s announcement will enhance accessibility, continuity, and quality of care by assembling a dedicated and interprofessional team of healthcare professionals. We thank the Ontario government for this recognition, which will help foster lasting relationships between patients and providers, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more resilient local healthcare system.”
– Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team
Learn more: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004143/ontario-connecting-over-300000-people-to-primary-care-teams
Southlake Community and South Simcoe Ontario Health Teams join together to connect care in their communities.
The Southlake Community Ontario Health Team and the South Simcoe Ontario Health Team have come together to create the new Northern York South Simcoe Ontario Health Team. Many factors, including increasing access to healthcare services for their communities, the proximity in geographic location, shared populations, and providing high-quality community healthcare were at the forefront of the decision to merge the two Ontario Health Teams (OHT).
The Southlake Community OHT and the South Simcoe OHT both shared an overarching goal of bringing connected care to the communities they serve, ensuring that the unique needs of their populations are met. The Northern York South Simcoe OHT will prioritize improving access to healthcare and reducing gaps in the healthcare system for these communities.
“As the communities we serve grow and change, it is essential that we broaden our horizons to meet our patients’ needs,” said Gayle Seddon, Executive Director, Southlake Community OHT. “In the spirit of collaboration and providing high-quality care, the Northern York South Simcoe OHT is forging a new path of excellence to elevate service offerings in our communities and transform the healthcare landscape.”
The Southlake Community OHT was part of the first cohort of OHTs approved in Ontario and has been operational since 2020. The South Simcoe OHT has been waiting for Ministry approval since 2019.
“As we enter this new chapter, meeting the needs of our population and communities will remain as the driving force in the work we do,” said Jody Levac, President and CEO, Stevenson Memorial Hospital. “We are eager to enter this new era of unity, demonstrating our commitment to collaboration, community care, and quality partnerships.”
The Northern York South Simcoe OHT will focus on shaping the future of collaborative healthcare for the residents of Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Georgina, New Tecumseth (Alliston, Beeton, Tottenham), Cookstown, Essa Township (including Base Borden), Township of Adjala-Tosorontio and the Town of Mono.