For immediate release

December 11, 2009

HOY ANNOUNCES NEW FAMILY HEALTH TEAM FOR
CHATHAM-KENT

CHATHAM—MPP Pat Hoy today announced provincial approval for another Family Health Team in Chatham-Kent to improve local access to health care.

“This is another positive step the Province is taking to provide a greater range of health care in our community,” said Hoy. “FHTs provide increased access to family health care, especially for people without doctors, and improve chronic disease management for their patients. It also takes some of the burden away from local emergency rooms.”

The new FHT will be located in Chatham.

New family health teams will be set up in areas of the province with high numbers of patients without family doctors. Family health teams provide better access to care closer to home with physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers and dieticians. The teams also help reduce emergency department use by providing non-emergency care.

Hoy pointed out that the 19 new family health teams announced today, including Chatham-Kent, are expected to be up and running by 2011/12. Ontario’s existing 150 teams have already enrolled more than 318,000 patients who did not have access to a family physician, and are providing care to more than two million people.

The province will establish 50 new family health teams and 25 new nurse practitioner-led clinics over the next three years.

“No matter where they live, all Ontario families deserve access to quality health care. Family health teams are a wonderful addition to communities in need, and I’m proud that these 19 new teams will increase access to family health care for more Ontarians,” said Health Minister Deb Matthews.

· Ontario recently announced eight new nurse practitioner-led clinics.
· Over 1,250 new health professionals have been hired to work at the existing 150 FHTs.
· Ontarians without a family health care provider are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect, a program designed to help people without a provider find one in their community.
· For more info on FHTs: www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/fht/fht_mn.html.

- 30 –

Media Contact: Mike Ferguson, 519-351-0510