More one-stop health centres coming to Ontario
Last Updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 | 4:57 PM ET
CBC News
Plans to double the number of community health centres in Ontario should help take pressure off other areas of the health care system, the Association of Ontario Health Centres says.
In Ottawa to talk about the growth of community health centres, including two new ones coming to Nepean and Cornwall, and to promote the work done at them, AOHC executive director Adrianna Tetley said the centres focus on disease prevention.
"If we can keep people well or help them to live with chronic diseases in a better way, it means that we won't be adding stress to emergency rooms, or to operations and surgeries that are needed in the future," Tetley told reporters at a news conference also attended by Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi and local health professionals.
There are 55 of the centres across the province offering doctors, nurses, counsellors, dieticians and other health providers under one roof, but by 2009 there will be 110, Tetley said.
Germaine Dean told reporters she has benefited from the services of a community health centre.
"Without their help, I know I would be on medication," she said.
Dean said that nine years ago, she discovered the Cornwall Community Health Centre while struggling with obesity and having just been diagnosed with diabetes.
There, she received medical help as well as nutrition advice from a dietitian and counselling.
