Residents of Elgin County, London, Middlesex County, and Oxford County, will soon have improved access to team‑based primary health care, thanks to $20.08 million in funding from the Government of Ontario. This endeavour is led by the Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT).
This funding is divided over three approved projects:
- Middlesex London will receive $10.8 million to connect over 23,000 people
- Elgin County will be awarded $4.05 million to connect over 7,600 people
- Oxford county will receive $5.23 million to attach over 11,000 people
Together, these three approved proposals will connect over 42,000 people to local, team‑based primary health care
This funding is part of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, under the province’s Your Health: Connected and Convenient Care initiative. This plan focuses on connecting more people to primary care, strengthening community‑based services, and reducing pressure on hospitals.
“Thames Valley Family Health Team is proud to continue our work with the Ontario Health Teams and Primary Care Networks in Elgin, London, Middlesex, and Oxord, to expand access to team-based primary health care close to home,” says Mike McMahon, CEO, TVFHT. “In service to our community, and together with our partners, we will build and grow local healthcare teams so more people can connect to primary health care earlier and get the support they need to live healthier lives.”
A Collaborative, Community-Based Approach
This work is being delivered through collaboration between Thames Valley Family Health Team, the Middlesex London Ontario Health Team, Elgin Ontario Health Team and Oxford Ontario Health Team as well as the Primary Care Networks of each of these counties, alongside community partners.
Together, partners are working to expand access in a way that addresses the needs of our communities and supports the expansion of sustainable, high‑quality team‑based primary health care across the region.
Having a Primary Care Provider Matters
These funds will allow local healthcare partners to focus on residents who are currently without a primary care provider. Attachment to primary care means having an ongoing relationship with a family physician or nurse practitioner — someone who knows your health history, coordinates your care, and supports you over time. This relationship helps improve health outcomes, greatly strengthens continuity of care, and provides seamless, compassionate, wrap-around care for every step of your health journey.
More than just treating symptoms, this ongoing primary care relationship shifts the focus to preventative care. A primary care provider is the central hub of your care – from tests, referring to specialists, and following up to ensure there are no gaps in your care. They can manage chronic or complex conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or mental health concerns. All of which cannot properly be addressed through walk-in clinics or emergency departments.
Beginning this primary care relationship will relieve pressure in other areas of our healthcare system, including our overrun hospitals and healthcare workers. It will mean fewer avoidable emergency department visits. This will reduce wait times and allow emergency departments to focus on true emergencies.
Turning Funding into Access
Thames Valley Family Health Team is both a provider of team‑based primary care in Middlesex-London, Elgin and Oxford Counties and an active partner in coordinating this expansion across the region.
Our focus is on translating this investment into real, meaningful access to care, delivered in phases and built to last. This includes careful planning, coordinated implementation, and recruitment in a challenging healthcare workforce environment.
How to Take the First Step
Residents who do not currently have a nurse practitioner or family physician are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect or call 811.
Health Care Connect is a provincial program that helps match people with primary care providers who are accepting new patients as capacity becomes available in their community. Registering with Health Care Connect is an important first step toward getting connected to ongoing care.