Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT), along with our partners, are pleased to announce the opening of a new primary care clinic in St. Thomas. The Elgin Community Health Hub is ready to help people at our clinic at 230 First Avenue, Suite 109, in St. Thomas, starting Monday, September 23.
The Elgin Community Health Hub is part of a broader initiative to improve access to healthcare in Elgin County. Currently there are 10,000 people in Elgin County without a primary care provider, and another 20,000 who are attached to a provider outside of the county. This clinic will support those residents, providing a range of services including:
- Diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries
- Managing a chronic illness
- Prenatal care
- Finding healthcare support in the community
There is also availability to support people who have a family doctor or nurse practitioner but are unable to attend appointments with them due to distance (ex. a family doctor in Toronto).
“We are excited to open this clinic and fill a crucial gap in healthcare for residents of Elgin County,” says Jill Strong, Interim Executive Director, TVFHT. “We know so many people in our community have been going without the healthcare they need simply because they don’t have access to a regular primary care provider. This clinic will change that.”
Appointments can be booked over the phone at 519-473-0530 x 2258. Online booking will soon be available, and communicated over social media.
Partnering together to provide primary care
This clinic is the result of community collaboration towards impact. TVFHT secured $960,938 in funding from the Ministry of Health earlier this year, and began working with a team of community partners to establish this clinic. Together we have been able to identify critical healthcare needs in Elgin County, and develop solutions to best serve the growing population of residents without access to local team-based primary care.
The Elgin Ontario Health Team has been a valuable partner in this endeavour. We support their goal to providing team-based care to 100% of Elgin residents who desire it. This clinic will help achieve that goal. It will also elevate access to non-emergency care, reducing unnecessary visits to the emergency department.
“We are thrilled to partner in the launch of this new primary care clinic, as it represents a significant step forward in addressing the health needs of our community,,” says Deanna Huggett, Elgin OHT Executive Director. “By strengthening community relationships and improving service coordination, we’re working toward better health outcomes for Elgin residents.”
Recruitment continues for this clinic, with more interdisciplinary healthcare professionals being added in the future to help support the healthcare needs of Elgin County.