Connecting More People to Primary Care
Coordinated regional action to expand access to team-based primary care

Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT) took on a vital regional role over the last year, working to connect more people to team-based primary health care closer to home – both in-person, and virtually.  

Many people across the region are not regular patients of a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or team-based clinic. As of November 2025, each area was reporting significant gaps: 94,000 people in London & Middlesex, 20,000 in Elgin, and 16,000 in Oxford without primary care. 

Through major new funding from the province, TVFHT led the expansion of Interprofessional Primary Care Team (IPCT) access across Elgin, London, Middlesex, and Oxford. At the same time, TVFHT assumed delivery of Ontario Health West’s Paediatric Virtual Urgent Care Clinic, extending that same commitment to families who need care from home. Both initiatives helped to close the gap between people and the primary care they need. 

Expanding Access Through the Primary Care Action Team 

TVFHT launched major access and attachment initiatives in 2025-2026, funded by Ontario Health and the province’s Primary Care Action Team: 

• $5.3 million received in August 2025, to improve access for 12,675 people in London and Middlesex by December 2026 

• $20.08 million received in May 2026, to improve access for 44,500 more people across Elgin, London, Middlesex, and Oxford by July 2027 

This work builds on earlier achievements with Interprofessional Primary Care Team projects, the Elgin Community Health Hub, and the Health & Homelessness IPCT which showcased TVFHT’s ability to recruit and coordinate partners, report on outcomes, and implement new access models quickly.  

As of June 30, 2026, over 8,000 people in London and Middlesex have been attached to team-based primary care in the first phase of this work. TVFHT secured a new clinic location in London as part of this work, expected to be ready for patients by the end of 2026. Work is in-progress for a second TVFHT clinical site in London, and expanded Elgin and Oxford sites to keep pace with the second round of funding.  

Regional Collaboration Across Elgin, London, Middlesex, and Oxford 

Connecting people to care at this scale required coordinated partnership across every region TVFHT serves. The first round of funding united several organizations: Family Health Organizations, a Community Health Centre, a Family Health Team, the Middlesex London Ontario Health Team, and the Middlesex London Primary Care Network.  

The second round of funding extended that same collaborative approach across the full region, with TVFHT serving as lead agency for all three projects. This involved coordinating expressions of interest, partner engagement, governance structures – along with sharing accountabilities with regional Ontario Health Teams and Primary Care Networks in Elgin, London, Middlesex, and Oxford.  

Growing TVFHT’s Workforce to Meet Demand 

To meet this demand, TVFHT expanded its staff team. Ongoing recruitment began for permanent roles at new and growing sites, and interim staffing plans were created to ensure continuous care while waiting for funding approval and full staffing. Between September 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, TVFHT grew from 135 to 171 staff – an increase of 36 people, roughly 27%, in less than a year.  

TVFHT also enhanced its support structure to support the growing staff team. New clinical and operational support roles were added for on-the-ground leadership, to help onboard new staff, coordinate care, and adapt as sites open and grow. These investments reflect TVFHT’s commitment to their team, including structured onboarding and leadership development, which are detailed in the People & Governance section.

Recognition from Provincial Leaders 

In May 2026, TVFHT and regional partners met with Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, to discuss TVFHT’s success in rapid attachment initiatives. In June 2026, senior leaders from Ontario Health visited the Southwest Middlesex Health Centre, a funded partner site, to review progress. At that visit, they acknowledged the sophistication of TVFHT’s collaborative model. The targets are ambitious and timelines are tight, but this funding milestone marked a significant shift to a provincially-recognized primary care leader. 

Extending Access Virtually: Paediatric Virtual Urgent Care 

In a growing virtual landscape, connecting people to care needed to adapt. Last year, TVFHT assumed programming for Ontario Health West’s Paediatrics Virtual Urgent Care. This trusted service provides free, nurse practitioner-led virtual urgent care for children and youth (ages 0–18) who require care for non-life-threatening concerns. This helps to alleviate the burden on emergency departments and urgent care clinics.  

The programming transitioned in November 2025 from the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre to TVFHT, maintaining partnership with Ontario Health and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Between November 10, 2025, and March 31, 2026, a total of 2,013 virtual visits were completed. 

TVFHT nurse practitioners began providing virtual support for children and families across Ontario with concerns such as rashes, fevers, minor injuries, and common infections, with interpretation services available in over 200 languages. Families have praised the service for being professional, reassuring, and convenient; one parent described it as “by far the most positive healthcare experience” they had, after receiving prompt care for their child. 

Every day, TVFHT explored new ways to bridge the gap between individuals and the primary care they need – from the opening of new clinics in their community, to offering a same-day or next-day virtual visit for a child with a fever. Collectively, these initiatives embody the core promise of enhancing care and expanding possibilities, one connection at a time. 

Interested in learning more about becoming a patient of a TVFHT nurse practitioner clinic in Elgin, London, Middlesex, or Oxford? Reach out to the team, and learn more, at: www.thamesvalleyfht.ca/become-a-patient  

To learn more about the Paediatric Virtual Urgent Care Clinic or to book an appointment, visit the Virtual Urgent Care Clinic page.