Health for All: Building a More Equitable Future for Primary Care 

The Health Equity and Cultural Safety (HECS) Committee at Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT) works collectively to advocate for inclusivity, ongoing learning and positive change in all aspects of work across all areas of the organization. The committee made excellent headway this year in their strategic overview through key initiatives. 

Training 

During the 24-25 year, the HECS Committee launched a mini-training series at TVFHT All-Staff Meetings. This series provides education and resources on topics to support patients, such as Non- Insured Health Benefits, making healthcare more environmentally sustainable, and food insecurity. 

This committee introduced updated Indigenous Cultural Safety training for staff, which is more accessible and applicable to people in Ontario. 

Community Support  

The HECS Committee also led the FHT’s participation in Coldest Night of the Year. As a result, TVFHT raised $1,255 in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. 

Access to Transportation 

The HECS Committee also started working on a plan to help patients who do not have reliable and affordable transportation to attend their appointments. The Committee considered feedback from patients and healthcare providers on how to best offer support. The plan is to begin offering bus tickets for patients to attend appointments, if they currently do not have access to reliable or affordable transportation. This support will begin in Spring 2025, starting with sites that have the highest need. 

Goals and next steps 

In the coming year, the HECS Committee will continue to provide training to staff. It will roll out guidelines for health equity considerations whenever TVFHT launches a new program. This group will also engage staff in a deep dive into environmental sustainability.