Members of the Hastings Prince Edward Ontario Health Team presented a draft model for what they are calling “neighbourhood access clinics” in order to improve access to health care across Hastings County.
In a delegation to Hastings County council on Thursday, the co-lead of the primary care council for HPE OHT, Dr. Robert Pinock, outlined some of the different health challenges and statistics the county currently faces when it comes to residents’ general health.
As part of the draft model, there would be neighbourhood access clinics in Belleville-Tyendinaga, Prince Edward County, Quinte West, Centre Hastings and North Hastings.
The goal would be to bring primary care to those who do not have a primary care provider.
Dr. Pinock says they are awaiting a call from Ontario Health for a proposal submission but no timeline has been provided as of yet.
Work is also being done to finalize the draft model.
One of the concerns would be how the team would navigate if there was no proposal or funding opportunity to support the model.
Hastings County council approved receiving the presentation, with a decision on providing a letter of support for the proposal coming at a future meeting.
