Plans are moving ahead on the development of a single Ontario Health Team for the Hastings and Prince Edward area.
CAO Jim Pine presented a report to a virtual meeting of Hastings County Council on Thursday.
Originally the idea had been to have separate Rural Hastings, Quinte area, and Prince Edward County teams.
This came together in a single team.
Pine says it’s about the coordination of primary care for citizens.
“A family practice physician connecting with the hospital and with the other parts of the health care sector – Mental heath and those kinds of different kinds of services. “
Pine added, “So it’s trying to build a coordinated care system for the residents of Hastings and Prince Edward counties. And of course connecting with hospitals.”
“Sort of allied services that we provide the people, you know whether it’s social determinants like housing or homeless issues long term care, paramedics of course.”
The province announced the Ontario Health Team approach about two years ago but no deadline has been set for its establishment. The local team submitted an application to the province recently to support establishing such a local team.
Pine says work continues on the issue.
“So it’s trying to build a coordinated care system for the residents of Hastings and Prince Edward counties. And of course connecting with hospitals. All different parties are involved, particularly health care at the community level. You’ve got govenance and different issues. We’re well on our way with that journey.”
