Clinic opening in Newmarket is taking patient calls for appointments prior to its October opening, thanks to $848,500 in funding from provincial government
The Southlake Academic Family Health Team is opening a new clinic to serve Newmarket and Aurora that will accept up to 2,300 local residents currently without a family doctor.
The provincial government and other health-care partners announced the new clinic at 535 Mulock Dr. Starting today, Sept. 4, the clinic will be taking calls for appointments when it opens in October, with spaces for about 2,300 unattached patients to connect with a health team.
The move is being made possible through $848,500 in funding from the Ontario government. The funding is part of the government’s Primary Care Action Plan, a $1.8-billion investment to connect two million more people to a publicly funded doctor or primary care team within four years.
Family physician and co-chair of the Northern York-South Simcoe Ontario Health team Dr. David Makary said it is vital for communities to access primary care.
“This is the first line of defence to keep people well. Managing chronic conditions and avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits,” he said. “By opening this clinic, we are working together to remove barriers, strengthen continuity of care, and ensure residents have the support they need in the community that they live in.”
The new clinic will provide a full spectrum of family medicine. The clinic was proposed by the York-Simcoe Ontario Health Team after the provincial government issued a call earlier this year for proposals to fund clinics in underserved communities. This new clinic location will be temporary for the next year or two, with operators planning to eventually move it to Aurora, where the proposal is targeted.
Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy said this is great news for the community and ensures patients with complex needs receive the care they require.
“Our government has heard the call from Ontarians for more access to care,” she said.
Northern York-South Simcoe Ontario Health team co-chair and Newmarket Councillor Christina Bisanz said this initiative will help address community concerns about health-care access.
“It does bring care closer to home,” she said. “It reduces barriers and shows what’s possible when we all work together across organizations and sectors. This initiative reflects the Northern York South Simcoe OHT vision to build communities where everyone has access to quality integrated health and social care.”
Makary said the clinic came together over the course of a few months. The team started an application in April, submitted it in May, and they were notified in July that they were getting the funding.
Bisanz said she is pleased their proposal was selected.
“This is an accessible location and one that is really going to target those people who are unattached. It’s really great to be able to have this,” she said.
Residents can call 289-903-3555 starting Sept. 4 to book an appointment.