Ontario Connecting 13,020 More People to Primary Care in Oxford

Funding to expand health care access in Oxford County

[May 1, 2026] Residents of Oxford County will soon have improved access to team-based primary health care, thanks to $5.23 million in funding from the Government of Ontario. The funding, announced by Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, will support efforts to attach over 11,000 people to primary care by March 2027.

This funding is part of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, under the province’s Your Health: Connected and Convenient Care initiative. This plan focuses on connecting more people to primary care, strengthening community‑based services, and reducing pressure on hospitals.

A collaborative, community-based approach

This work is being delivered through collaboration between Thames Valley Family Health Team, the Oxford Ontario Health Team, and the Oxford Primary Care Network, alongside community partners such as the Ingersoll Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic and the Tillsonburg Unattached Care Clinic. 

Having a primary care provider matters

These funds will allow local healthcare partners to focus on residents who are currently without a primary care provider. Attachment to primary care means having an ongoing relationship with a family physician or nurse practitioner — someone who knows your health history, coordinates your care, and supports you over time. This relationship helps improve health outcomes, greatly strengthens continuity of care, and provides seamless, compassionate, wrap-around care for every step of your health journey.

More than just treating symptoms, this ongoing primary care relationship shifts the focus to preventative care. A primary care provider is the central hub of your care – from tests, referring to specialists, and following up to ensure there are no gaps in your care. They can manage chronic or complex conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or mental health concerns. All of which cannot properly be addressed through walk-in clinics or emergency departments.

Beginning this primary care relationship will relieve pressure in other areas of our healthcare system, including our overrun hospitals and healthcare workers. It will mean fewer avoidable emergency department visits. This will reduce wait times and allow emergency departments to focus on true emergencies.