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A recent social media post about a Simcoe physician closing his practice at the end of the year drew a flurry of reactions from patients concerned about finding a replacement.
Published Nov 09, 2025 • Last updated 14 hours ago • 4 minute read
The new BBN Primary Care Access Clinic has opened in Simcoe and Paris, ON. The clinic is a collaborative initiative of the Grand River Community Health Centre, the Norfolk Family Health Team, and the PrimaCare Family Health Team. Photo by iStock /GETTY IMAGESArticle content
A recent social media post about a Simcoe physician closing his practice at the end of the year drew a flurry of reactions from patients concerned about finding a replacement.
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It again drew attention to the shortage of family doctors practising in the municipality.
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About 20,000 people, or just over eight percent of the Brantford-Brant-Norfolk population, don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
The retirement of that local doctor means about 2,000 patients on his roster will also soon be left without primary care, said Roxanne Pierssens-Silva, executive director of the Norfolk Family Health Team.
Add to those concerning statistics the reality that up to 60 per cent of local family physicians will reach retirement age in the next five to 10 years, and the situation becomes more critical.
To help improve medical care, two new primary access clinics that will serve residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner have opened in Paris and Simcoe, building on the successful model already operating in Brantford through the Grand River Community Health Centre.
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The new BBN Primary Care Access Clinic is a collaborative initiative of the Grand River Community Health Centre, the Norfolk Family Health Team, and the PrimaCare Family Health Team.
A nurse practitioner will split her time between Paris and Simcoe, working two days a week at each location – 25 Curtis Ave. North in Paris and 185 Robinson St. in Simcoe. There will also be afternoon/evening hours offered on Wednesdays on alternating weeks.
“This isn’t a walk-in clinic,” said Tina Gabriel, executive director of the Paris-based PrimaCare team. “It’s about connecting people to care that will be followed up.”
Lynda Kohler, executive director of the Grand River Community Health Centre, said the clinic is meant to be a temporary service with a goal of eventually getting patients added to a local doctor or nurse practitioner’s permanent roster.
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“It gives people an alternative while waiting for (permanent) primary care,” said Kohler.
The clinic ensures patients who are eventually connected to a family doctor “are coming in with up-to-date information, not as someone who hasn’t had primary care for 10 years,” said Pierssens-Silva.
Appointments must be pre-booked for non-emergency health concerns, including minor injuries and illnesses, bloodwork requisition, sexual health care, cancer screening, prenatal care, vaccinations, prescription renewals (excluding narcotics), specialist referrals and chronic disease management.
Aaron Gautreau, director of communications and public relations at Norfolk General Hospital, said the family doctor shortage is being felt across the country.
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“That’s why recruitment is one of our highest priorities and why we continue to work hard to bring more doctors to Norfolk,” he said.
At a meeting in late 2024 where he was seeking $100,000 from Norfolk County council to support physician recruitment efforts for 2025, Norfolk General Hospital CEO Todd Stepanuik said there were 17,000 primary care doctors in Ontario, 34 of them practising in Norfolk.
Stepanuik said the shortage of family physicians puts added pressure on the NGH emergency room.
About 2.5 million Ontarians are without a family doctor, according to recent data published by the Ontario College of Family Physicians.
The Ford government has vowed to combat the crisis by connecting every Ontarian with a family physician by 2029, with initiatives that include a new funding model for doctors, recruitment programs, increased medical school spots, and team-based care.
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Alicia Myers, a physician recruitment specialist, works to fill vacancies at Norfolk General and helps support the recruitment of family doctors in the community as a member of the Norfolk Primary Care Taskforce. Also on the taskforce are the county’s economic development team, the Brantford Brant Norfolk Ontario Health Team and local physicians.
Gautreau said the recruitment team offers signing bonuses, relocation support and help with start-up expenses to lure doctors to the community. An AI platform has been launched that matches physicians with jobs in Norfolk. The team also travels to recruitment events to connect with potential candidates, promoting the county’s rural way of life with “safe communities, shorter commutes and more time for family and recreation.”
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Over the past two years, Norfolk General has welcomed several new physicians, including an obstetrician gynecologist, emergency department doctors, anesthetists, a surgeon, and a family doctor. The hospital currently has more than 145 physicians.
“While we welcome interest from all medical learners and doctors exploring rural practice, we are especially looking for specialists in anesthesiology, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency medicine,” said Gautreau. “These skills are essential to strengthening care for our community.”
In a statement, Heidy VanDyk, general manager of corporate services for Norfolk County, said the municipality “continues to work with our healthcare partners to encourage physicians and other medical practitioners to come to Norfolk County to practice.” Last year, the county invested $250,000 in doctor recruitment.
“The county also included the topic of physician recruitment in its Ministry of Health delegation at this year’s AMO conference so that the province continues to be aware of the need for physicians in Norfolk.”
Appointments at the Primary Care Access Clinic can be booked online at bbnoht.ca
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