July 4, 2007

PORT HOPE – The McGuinty government is improving access to primary health care for Port Hope residents by providing $2.9 million in capital funding for the opening of the Port Hope Community Health Centre, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"Our government is committed to working with local communities to ensure that patients have access to high quality health care closer to home," said Smitherman. "That's why we are investing in the Port Hope Community Health Centre, which will give residents a single-point of access to a full complement of primary care health professionals."

The $2.9 million investment will pay for the renovation of 12,300 sq. ft. of space at 99 Toronto Road. The Port Hope Community Health Centre (CHC) will have over 12 full-time staff including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, therapist, chiropodist, health promoter, community health worker, and dietitian and four full-time diabetes program staff.

"This $2.9 million investment in the Port Hope Community Heath Centre is another indication that our government is listening to the needs of our communities," said Lou Rinaldi, M.P.P. for Northumberland. "I have been working with the Community Health Committee in Port Hope since 2003 to bring much needed primary health care back to Port Hope, and today our government is delivering the funds to make this Community Health Centre a reality."

"We are pleased the government is addressing the needs of Port Hope residents by investing in primary health care services," said Aldo D'Agostino, Board Chair of the Port Hope CHC. "This means priority populations in our area, such as low-income seniors and youth will have access to quality health care services when they need them."

"Access to primary care is a key priority identified in our recent Integrated Health Service Plan and today's announcement regarding the Port Hope CHC shows how that priority is being recognized and made a reality," said Foster Loucks, Chair of the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). "Physicians, nurses and other front line healthcare professionals from across the Central East region are working together, with support from the LHIN and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, to make sure people are getting timely access to the services they need."

The Port Hope Community Health Care Centre is one of 22 new CHCs announced by the government in November 2005.

This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians can achieve results in primary health care services, other initiatives include :

• Investing $60,000 at Northumberland Hills Hospital to provide 240 additional CT scans and 840 extra exams to reduce waiting times;
• Investing $651, 848 at Northumberland Hills Hospital to improve emergency room services and diabetes education;
• A new Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine with $800,000 annually in funding for the Northumberland Hills Hospital.

Today's initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public :
416-327-4327, or 1-866-532-3161

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