As part of its comprehensive plan to end hallway health care, Ontario is investing $27 billion over 10 years to build new and expanded hospital infrastructure while also supporting new community-based programs and services.
On Friday, Robin Martin, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health, was joined by Jill Dunlop, Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues and MPP for Simcoe North, at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care to announce that Ontario is investing up to $9.8 million to support the construction of the new Community Health Hub in Midland.
“Our government will end hallway health care by investing in innovative projects like the new Community Health Hub that will help more patients and families access coordinated care, in a single location,” said Martin. “Integrated models of care that are supported by its infrastructure, is a key part of our broader plan to build a connected and sustainable public health care system centred around the needs of patients.”
The project includes relocating the Centre de santé communautaire CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care’s Outpatient Mental Health program and the HERO Centre (Housing, Employment, Rehabilitation and Our Place Social Club programs) to one site. The internal construction of the Community Health Hub building began in July 2019 and is anticipated to be completed in spring 2020.
“This is fantastic news for our community as it improves access to various services,” said Dunlop. “By offering programs in the same physical space, it will make it easier for residents to get the help they need. This is part of our plan to put patients at the centre of every decision we make.”
“We are very excited to see our history of collaboration expand by coming together in our new physical space,” said Carol Lambie, President and CEO of Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. “Waypoint and CHIGAMIK were visionary in planning for this co-location of services to improve access for our clients and their families which is now very aligned to the government’s commitment to integrated care delivery systems.”
“Communities that invest and partner together, deliver care that is connected to their community and where everyone feels like they are valued and belong,” said David Jeffery, Executive Director of Centre de santé communautaire CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre. “Over the past decade, CHIGAMIK has been collaborating with community partners to improve the health and well-being of our tri-cultural community by working together, sharing knowledge and providing integrated care to our residents. The new Community Health Hub is the result of these deep partnerships that have been fostered, and we’re excited to provide even more people with access to quality, client-centered care.”
