NDP: Chronic underfunding in primary care is leaving patients out in the cold

QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) and France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) were joined by primary care professionals and patients from Taddle Creek Family Health Team to demand action on the funding crisis facing Family Health Teams.

“Everyone in Ontario should be able to access good primary care that works for them, regardless of their age, their ethnicity, where they live, or their income,” said Bell. “Clinics like Taddle Creek are the solution to our health care crisis. They are a tried and tested model of care. Instead of starving them of funding, more nurse-led clinics and family health teams should be established and fairly funded.”

Taddle Creek Family Health Team has lost two doctors since July 2023, leaving 2000 patients without a family physician. This adds to the more than 500,000 Torontonians who do not have access to a dedicated primary care provider.

“Family Health Teams have been faced with frozen budgets while this Premier has ignored the growing crisis in primary care,” added Gélinas. “It’s time Ontarians had a government that invests in delivering the care they deserve.”

Additional Quotes:

“Newly trained doctors are intentionally choosing not to enter this field of medicine while existing family doctors are leaving. This is due to lack of support and funding. We are facing increases in administrative burden; complexity of care for individuals and communities; and costs required to run our practices and businesses. These are in turn taking time away from what we love – spending time with and supporting our patients and communities.”

Dr. Elysha Mawji - Physician, Taddle Creek Family Health Team

“The widening wage gap is causing Family Health Teams such as Taddle Creek Family Health Team to experience challenges in recruitment and retention, staffing shortages, vacancies in positions, staff feeling undervalued and demoralized - all of which has an impact on patient care and stability of health care system.

Cheryl Dobinson - Executive Director, Taddle Creek Family Health Team