The Ontario provincial government announced nearly $15 million [1] on Friday to expand and integrate primary-care team-based services in Middlesex and Elgin counties.
This investment targets a critical gap in healthcare access for residents in the London area. By shifting toward a team-based model, the province intends to connect thousands of citizens to primary-care physicians and integrated health services.
MPP Rob Flack said the funding during an event at CASO Station in St. Thomas. The initiative focuses on improving the delivery of care across the city of London and the surrounding counties to ensure residents do not have to travel long distances for basic medical needs.
The total funding package includes various allocations for regional integration. According to reports, $6.4 million [3] is specifically designated to integrate local health-care teams. This effort is designed to streamline how different medical professionals collaborate within the same system.
Geographic distribution of the funds is also a key component of the plan. Elgin County is set to receive nearly $1 million [2] to support its team-based primary health care infrastructure. These funds will allow for a more robust network of providers in the county.
Officials said the expansion of these teams will reduce the pressure on emergency rooms by providing more stable, long-term options for primary care. The integration of these teams is expected to create a more seamless transition for patients moving between different levels of care within the provincial system.
“The province intends to connect thousands of citizens to primary-care physicians.”
This funding represents a strategic shift toward integrated care models to combat the ongoing shortage of family physicians in rural and semi-rural Ontario. By investing in team-based care, where doctors, nurses, and specialists work together, the province is attempting to increase the volume of patients served per clinic, reducing the number of residents without a primary care provider.
