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| TODAY'S NEWS | SEARCH THE NEWSROOM | NEWS BY MINISTRY |
New Centres, Increased Funding Mean Better Access To Primary Care And
Stronger Communities
TORONTO, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is investing in 22 new
Community Health Centres and 17 new satellite CHCs across the province to
improve access to primary health care and strengthen communities, Health and
Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.
"Health care is about more than treating illness, it's also about
addressing the underlying conditions that contribute to healthy lives and
healthy communities, and Community Health Centres are one of the best vehicles
for doing that," Smitherman said. "These new CHCs and satellite CHCs will
offer programs and services designed specifically for their communities."
Today's announcement of $74.6 million in funding over three years is the
largest-ever expansion of Ontario's Community Health Centre system. In
addition to the new centres and satellites CHCs (local community branches of
the centres), existing CHCs across the province will receive extra funding for
staffing and program enhancements.
CHC teams include physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, counsellors,
community workers and dieticians. CHCs also offer a wide range of programs in
addition to health services. Existing CHCs offer services such as youth peer
support programs, programs to address violence, youth leadership training and
skills development, parent and child programs, outreach to isolated seniors.
The CHC is a highly effective model of primary health care, and is of
particular value to people who face access barriers.
One new CHC and eight new satellite CHCs will be funded for Toronto
neighbourhoods, particularly in at-risk communities identified in the City of
Toronto and the United Way of Greater Toronto's Strong Neighbourhoods Report.
Once this expansion is complete, every community identified in the report will
have a CHC or satellite CHC. In these neighbourhoods, the centres form a vital
part of the network of community services offering programs to combat problems
like gun violence.
"These new centres will become an integral part of our neighbourhoods,
bringing vital services and people together," said Children and Youth Services
Minister and Scarborough East MPP Mary Anne Chambers. "The establishment of
CHCs in at-risk neighbourhoods will help provide much-needed supports for
youth, young children and their families."
Currently, over 300,000 Ontarians benefit from the services offered at 54
existing CHCs and 10 satellite CHCs across the province. Boards of directors,
composed of clients, recognized community leaders and respected health and
social service providers, design programs and services to meet the specific
needs and priorities of the populations they serve.
"Today's announcement demonstrates the McGuinty government's profound
commitment to quality primary health care for individuals and communities
facing barriers to access," said Association of Ontario Health Centres
President Denise Brooks. "The additional program funding allows centres to
work proactively with their communities to produce improved health outcomes
and healthier communities."
This initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan to build a
health care system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians
healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and
nurses.
This news release, along with other media materials, such as matte
stories and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
For more information on achievements in health care, visit:
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca.
Version française disponible
Backgrounder
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MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT EXPANDING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE
Community Health Centres use a community development approach to health
care that ensures Ontarians who face access barriers such as race, language,
poverty, physical disabilities or geographic isolation have access to primary
health care and community health programs.
The centres have teams of health care professionals including physicians,
nurse practitioners, nurses, counsellors, community workers and dieticians who
deliver a range of services.
As part of this initiative, the government is investing in the priority
neighbourhoods identified in the City of Toronto's Strong Neighbourhoods
Report: Crescent Town, Flemingdon Park - Victoria Village, Jamestown, Jane-
Finch, Malvern, Westminster-Branson, Weston-Mount Dennis, Lawrence Heights,
Steeles-L'Amoureaux, Dorset Park, Eglinton East-Kennedy Park, Scarborough
Village and Kingston-Galloway. The province is supporting one new CHC
(Malvern) and eight new satellite CHCs (local community branches of the
centres) in Toronto's priority neighbourhoods, and providing funding for
additional staffing in existing CHCs to develop programs to address specific
problems and issues identified within their communities.
Existing CHCs in other communities across the province will also benefit
from staffing enhancements over the three-year period.
Below is a chart outlining the 22 new Community Health Centres and 17 new
satellites CHCs for 2005-2008:
<<
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2005/06 2006/07 2007/08
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CHC Satellite CHC Satellite CHC Satellite
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chatham/ Wallaceburg
Kent
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Woodstock St. Thomas Markdale
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shelldale
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fort Erie/ St. Brantford
Port Catharines Niagara
Colborne Falls
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bramalea Jamestown Vaughan Malton
Kipling-
Dixon
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Gooch- Crescent
Cooper Mill, Town
the Junction
and North
High Park
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jane-Finch Don Mills- York
Finch Centre
Weston-Mount
Dennis
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malvern Minden Port Hope Pickering
Brock
Township
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Smiths Belleville Napanee
Falls Trenton
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Cornwall Nepean
Prescott-
Russell
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Collingwood
Midland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sudbury Sturgeon
East Falls
Kapuskasing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thunder Bay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
LHIN
----------------
Erie-St.Clair
----------------
South West
----------------
Waterloo
Wellington
----------------
Hamilton
Niagara
Haldimand
Brant
----------------
Central West
----------------
Toronto Central
----------------
Central
----------------
Central East
----------------
South East
----------------
Champlain
----------------
North Simcoe
Muskoka
----------------
North East
----------------
North West
----------------
>>
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For further information: Members of the media: David Spencer, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; David Jensen, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or 1-800-268-1154
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