Province Invests $2.1 Million to Expand Access to Primary Care in Peterborough

Province Invests $2.1 Million to Expand Access to Primary Care in Peterborough

Peterborough, ON-May 29, 2026. On Friday, May 29, 2026, Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, announced a new provincial investment of $2.1 million to improve access to primary care for residents without a family physician, nurse practitioner, or access to a Community Health Centre.
This funding will support a collaborative effort led by the Peterborough Family Health Team, alongside key community partners including the Peterborough 360 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, Peterborough Community Health Centre, Peterborough Street Medicine, Peterborough Newcomer Health Clinic, and the New Canadians Centre, with support from the Peterborough Ontario Health Team.

Together, these organizations will use the funding to strengthen access to primary care services across the region, with a shared goal of connecting approximately 4,500 patients to permanent family physicians and primary care teams, while continuing to provide care for those who remain unattached.
Funding will be directed toward enhancing services at the Connect Clinic, 360 Nurse Practitioner Clinic, and Peterborough Street Medicine. Additional support has been allocated to the Peterborough Community Health Centre to expand teaching opportunities for local family physicians, including training for medical students and other education initiatives aimed at building long-term healthcare capacity.

Since its launch, the Connect Clinic has supported more than 6,600 patients, with over 1,000 successfully connected to a permanent family physician or primary care team. This new investment will enable the program to continue and expand its work in a more sustainable and coordinated way.

“This announcement is an important step forward for the tens of thousands of people in our community who do not currently have access to a family physician, nurse practitioner, or Community Health Centre,” said Dr. Wendy Thomas, Medical Adviser, Peterborough Family Health Team. “The Connect Clinic is not meant to replace the long-term relationship a patient may have with a family physician, it is meant to bridge the gap while patients wait for long-term attachment. We are bringing together newly retired physicians, those new to our community, and physicians with added capacity, alongside a full team of healthcare professionals, to improve access to care in meaningful ways.”

The Connect Clinic model focuses on transitional attachment, ensuring patients receive timely, team-based care while awaiting permanent placement with a primary care provider. This approach helps prevent gaps in care and improves health outcomes by maintaining continuity in treatment.

For example, patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes can receive medication adjustments, lab work, and ongoing care through the Connect Clinic until they are permanently attached, ensuring their healthcare remains consistent and up to date.

“This model is about using the full strength of our workforce in new and meaningful ways. This funding will allow us to expand care beyond traditional clinic walls. Through a dedicated registered nurse supporting Peterborough Street Medicine, we will better reach individuals facing barriers to care and ensure they are not left behind. It also supports education and training opportunities that will help build the workforce for the future” said Kathryn Ward, Clinical Manager, Peterborough Family Health Team.

Partners emphasize that this investment represents a coordinated, community-wide effort rather than a single solution. By strengthening collaboration across organizations and care models, the initiative aims to move closer to a system where everyone in the City and County of Peterborough can access the care they need, when they need it.

From Left to Right: Dr.B.Lehmann-Bender, Dr.W.Thomas, Kathryn Ward, Duff Sprague, Dave Smith, Dave Haacke, Danielle Howson, Ashley Safar Dr. M Sundareswaran, Sherry Senis

Media Contact:
Jenna Butcher 705-749-1564 ext 316
jenna.butcher@peterboroughfht.com