Ontario Government to End Funding For Seven Drug Injection Sites Including Peterborough

The Ontario Government is ending provincial funding for the seven active drug injection sites, including Peterborough’s existing Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub, announced on Monday.

To date, the province has invested almost $550 million to support 28 HART Hubs across Ontario. File photo.

In late January of last year, the Ontario Government provided $6.2 million for Peterborough’s HART hub.

According to a press release, the defunding is part of the government’s plan to protect families and communities. This latest step responds directly to local concerns over public safety associated with these sites and furthers the government’s plan to fund treatment and lasting recovery from addiction, rather than continued public funding of drug injection sites, according to Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

“Our government is focused on treatment, recovery and safer communities,” she said. “Through our almost $550 million investment to establish HART Hubs across the province, we are ensuring people struggling with addiction can access the care and supports they need to break the tragic cycle of addiction and rebuild their lives while protecting Ontario communities.”

The province is initiating a 90-day wind-down period — 60 days longer than required — to give clients time to transition to support from their local HART Hub. With Peterborough, the other sites include two in Toronto, two in Ottawa, one in Niagara Falls and one in London. During this period, the government stated that it would work directly with municipalities and community partners to ensure a safe, coordinated wind-down of provincial funding for the drug injection sites and a successful transition to the new recovery model.

The defunding follows legislation passed in 2024 that prohibits injection sites from operating within 200 metres of schools and child-care centres.

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Northcrest Pharmacy Gets Second Family Physician As Medical Clinic Expands Access to Care

Dr. Onifade is joining Northcrest Pharmacy and Medical Clinic this April as a second family physician to further access to primary care, announced by the City of Peterborough on Monday.

The clinic is open six days a week, with the expansion expected to add additional access to care for over 2,000 new patients who do not have a regular family doctor. Photo courtesy of Northcrest Pharmacy.

He joins Dr. Tifase and is accepting new patients in the City of Peterborough. Pre-registration is now open for residents who do not currently have a family doctor and wish to schedule a meet-and-greet appointment.  

“Every new physician who starts a practice in the City of Peterborough means more residents will have access to healthcare,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “We are pleased to see clinics expanding their capacity and welcoming doctors who are committed to serving our community.” 

Formerly Fadhil’s Pharmasave, Northcrest Pharmacy and Medical Clinic has served the Peterborough community for over 16 years. Owners Vijay Sappani and Sam Kanni have been working to expand healthcare services available in the neighbourhood.  

“Our goal is to build a community medical hub that makes it easier for patients to access care,” said Sappani. “Reinvesting in the community by bringing in a physician is one step, but helping them settle into the community and succeed in practice is just as important.”  

Dr. Tifase began practicing family medicine at the Northcrest Pharmacy and Medical Clinic in February last year after relocating from the United Kingdom to Ontario. His arrival marked the first step in the clinic’s expansion, as the clinic plans to recruit additional physicians to meet the growing demand for primary care in the community.

“I appreciated the assistance of the City’s physician recruitment coordinator, Chantal Van Parys, and her dedication in helping support licensing requirements, immigration pathways and connecting me with local resources,” said Dr. Tifase. “Having someone local who understood the healthcare system and the community made a real difference as I transitioned into practice here.” 

With two physicians now practicing at the clinic, and open six days a week, the expansion is expected to add additional access to care for over 2000 new patients who do not have a regular family doctor. Patients interested in registering can visit northcrestclinic.com for more information.  

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Redevelopment Planning Takes a Major Step Forward

The Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) is advancing its redevelopment journey with the development of a comprehensive Clinical Services Plan and Master Program, a critical step in planning for a future hospital facility.

photo courtesy of the The Campbellford Memorial Hospital.

Following a procurement process, CMH has engaged an experienced, integrated consulting team to support this work, including HDR Architecture, Unity Design Studios, Resource Planning Group (RPG), Trans4mation Solutions Consulting and Preyra Solutions Group (PSG). Together, the team will work in close partnership with hospital leadership, staff, physicians and community partners to ensure the future hospital is designed to improve upon how care is delivered today and how it will need to be delivered in the future.

The Clinical Services Plan focuses on understanding current and future health care needs, examining population trends and service demands and identifying opportunities to strengthen care in a modern, integrated rural hospital setting. It will guide decisions about the type of services that will be provided at the new CMH and how those services are organized, while the Master Program will translate those needs into planning assumptions that will guide future planning and design decisions.

“This phase of work is about taking a thoughtful, evidence-based approach to planning our future,” said Jeff Hohenkerk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbellford Memorial Hospital. “By developing these plans now, we are ensuring that the next stages of redevelopment are grounded in a clear understanding of our community’s needs and the realities of providing care in a rural environment.”

A core principle of this planning phase is co-design with a focus on understanding what is working well, where pressures exist and how services can be strengthened in a new environment. Input gathered through engagement with staff, physicians, patients and the community will directly shape future planning decisions and ensure the redevelopment supports safe, sustainable and patient-centred care.

“Redevelopment is not just about a new building,” Hohenkerk added. “It is about creating a hospital that enhances patient and family experiences, supports our staff and physicians, and remains responsive and sustainable for generations to come.”

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CUPE Health Care Workers Rally For Change; Protest Health Care Spending Cuts

CUPE health care workers and community allies protested the government’s health care spending cuts, gathering outside MPP Dave Smith’s office Monday morning.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

All photos by Felicia Massey.

According to CUPE, Peterborough is projected to lose 115 nurses and PSWs by 2027 to 2028 while the regional hospital could lose 32 staffed beds due to government funding cuts.

The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario’s analysis estimates that hospitals across Ontario will see a bed reduction of 2,450 staffed beds if the government does not increase funding.

@ptbo_canada CUPE health care workers and community allies protested the government’s health care spending cuts, gathering outside MPP Dave Smith’s office Monday morning. Visit ptbocanada .com to learn more. #ptbocanada #CUPE ♬ original sound - PTBOCanada

“Nurses are working at unsafe ratios within the hospital,” said registered practical nurse Rachel Fleming. “Ideally, it would be great to have a 1:4 ratio as it gives you enough time to take care of the patient and provide them with the appropriate attention, but instead because they’re cutting jobs they’re making an increased workload for us. Every time you add a patient on top of a 1:4 ratio it increases the chance of death for all patients by 7 per cent.”

MPP Smith has reportedly not addressed CUPE’s concerns.

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New Digital Wayfinding Tool To Help Hospital Goers Navigate Peterborough Regional Health Centre

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has announced Thursday that the MazeMap wayfinding system is now live; a digital tool to aid in hospital navigation.

photo courtesy of The Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

This GPS-enabled tool supports wayfinding within the hospital, starting with a new touchscreen kiosk inside the Main Entrance, or one of four additional touchscreens in locations throughout the hospital building.

Find your way using MazeMap:

1. Tap the touchscreen to get started

2. Search for or add the location you are looking for

3. A map and the best route for you to take will pop up

4. (Optional) Scan the code on the screen to add the directions to your phone

Using a personal device to access directions is completely optional, and is not required to use the MazeMap system. If you do choose this option, you are encouraged to connect to the “PRHC Guest” Wi-Fi network. This will allow the MazeMap system to determine which floor you are on to best guide you to your destination.

Patients and visitors who are using personal devices are also encouraged to download the MazeMap app and search for Peterborough Regional Health Centre to support improved navigation through the hospital.

“Peterborough Regional Health Centre is a 715,000-square-foot regional referral hospital, and we’ve heard your feedback about how challenging it can be to navigate our hallways, whether you’re coming for an appointment, as a support person or to visit a loved one,” says Evan Lyons, VP, Digital Services, Strategy & Planning and Chief Information Officer. “Our goal with the digital MazeMap system is to help make your time at the hospital just a bit easier by providing more and better information, right at your fingertips.”

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre Launches Emergency Department Streamlined Treatment and Evaluation Pathway

A new Streamlined Treatment and Evaluation Pathway is available starting Monday for patients with minor illnesses and injuries in Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s (PRHC) Emergency Department.

file photo.

The online Streamlined Treatment and Evaluation Pathway (STEP) will allow patients to be pre-screened for minor illnesses and injuries, including respiratory symptoms, minor limb injuries and urinary tract infections.

Before arriving at the hospital, patients will be asked to complete an online survey to determine their eligibility for this care pathway based on their symptoms.

Patients who complete the survey and are eligible for STEP will be provided with a confirmation message and asked to come to the Emergency Department as usual. Upon arrival, these patients will check in at the Emergency Department triage desk and show the Registration Clerk their confirmation of STEP eligibility, and will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis by a dedicated physician. Once the triage nurse has verified the patient’s eligibility, they will be directed to the STEP area of the Green Zone waiting room, where they will wait to be seen by a physician.

If you complete the survey and STEP isn’t the right pathway for your care, you will be asked to come to the Emergency Department and go through the normal triage process.

A STEP physician will be available to see patients with minor illnesses and injuries from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“STEP is one of many initiatives our Emergency Department has taken on to help reduce wait times and patient length-of-stay,” said Jessica Jackson, Director of Emergency, Critical Care, Respiratory Services and Trauma at PRHC. “We want to ensure that we are able to streamline our patients in the most efficient way possible to improve their care and experience, and with the support of leadership and staff across the hospital, we will continue to invest in these and other efforts to make innovations like STEP possible.”

The STEP survey can be accessed directly online.

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Lakelands Public Health Offering 750 Free Radon Test Kits to the Community

Lakelands Public Health is offering 750 free radon test kits to community members as part of the Evict Radon National Study, which is combating the second-leading cause of lung cancer.

File photo.

Community members who receive a kit must agree to participate in the study, set up the device for at least 91 days and send the kit (prepaid envelope included) for analysis.  

According to Lakelands Public Health, Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that emanates from the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It can seep into cracks, gaps and openings in a home’s foundation. When radon enters confined spaces, such as a house, it can accumulate and become harmful.  

Radon is invisible, odourless and tasteless. When inhaled, radon traps radioactive particles in the lungs. This creates damage and over the years can develop into lung cancer. In Canada, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after tobacco smoke. 

“The Lakelands Public Health region has been identified as priority for the researchers at Evict Radon – not necessarily because there are high levels of radon in our area, but because there is insufficient data about the radon levels in our area,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Lakelands Public Health medical officer of health and CEO. “The study results will help us learn more about radon levels in our community to support future programming so that we can work with municipalities to better understand and mitigate local risks,” he added. 

Test kits are limited to one per household and must be picked up by a person residing in the household. Test kits are available while quantities last.

Kits can be picked up at:  

• Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and the City of Kawartha Lakes:

• Local public libraries

• County of Peterborough: 

• Local municipal offices

• City of Peterborough:

• Lakelands Public Health (Peterborough Office, 3rd Floor, 185 King St.)

Radon Kits can also be purchased from EvictRadon.org.

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Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation Announces 2025 Recipients of the Senior Care Micro Grant Program

The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) has announced the winners of its second-annual Senior Care Micro Grant program.

from left to right: Vince Bierworth, Executive Director for Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation, Bailley Taylor, NNADAP worker and Nicole Capalbo, Home & Community Care Manager Curve Lake First Nation. Photo Courtesy of The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.

Two grants worth $5,000 were made available to support senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives within the Peterborough area: Curve Lake First Nation’s Home and Community Care and Mental Health Project and One City Peterborough’s Nutritional Support for At-Risk Seniors Project.

“It was a difficult process to narrow down the applications. Our recipients this year address both mental and physical health concerns, as well as nutritional concerns with some of the most vulnerable in our community.” said Vince Bierworth, Executive Director for the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation. “Our committee, which was made up of healthcare professionals and community members, were very impressed with the quality and variety of projects submitted. After much deliberation, they settled upon two projects that will have both an immediate and lasting impact for seniors and elders in our community.”

In their application, Curve Lake First Nation states that the Home and Community Care and Mental Health Project “is addressing a critical gap in Elder care by providing culturally relevant mental health and wellness supports that are not currently available in our community. There are limited opportunities for Elders to engage in programming that integrates mental, emotional, spiritual and cultural well-being. Elders often face isolation, challenges with life transitions and limited access to traditional knowledge and healing practices. By offering biweekly gatherings that combine cultural teachings, land-based activities, art therapy, addictions awareness and connections to community partners, this project fills an unmet need and ensures our elders are supported in a holistic and culturally safe way.”

“Curve Lake Home and Community Care in partnership with Mental Health Services is sincerely grateful and deeply appreciative to the GPHSF for awarding us the Seniors Care Micro Grant,” said Nicole Capalbo, Home and Community Care Manager at Curve Lake Health Centre. “Our Elders are a vital part of our community, and this funding will be put to great use in enhancing culturally grounded mental health and wellness supports. This investment strengthens our ability to care for our Elders in meaningful ways that honour their dignity, identity and overall well-being.”

In their application, One City Peterborough states that the Nutritional Support for At-Risk Seniors Project supports “Seniors who make up 35 per cent of the individuals accessing drop-in services on a regular basis, many of whom also have complex nutritional needs due to chronic illness, diabetes, exposure related injuries, chronic malnutrition and severe dental decay, among other factors. This project will identify marginalized seniors with high nutritional needs that are not being met and provide interventions to offset their risk of associated health burdens.”

From Left to Right: Michael Vanderherberg, Director of Property Development One City Peterborough, Cheyenne Buck, Trinity Drop-in Coordinator, Brian McCarthy, Finance Coordinator One City Peterborough and Vince Bierworth, Executive Director Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation. Photo Courtesy of The Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.

“One City Peterborough is very grateful that we will be able to use this grant to do just a little bit more to help those folks who face elevated health risks when they are unable to meet their nutritional needs,” said Danita Gilbert, Nurse Care Coordinator with One City Peterborough. “In addition to direct nutritional interventions, this pilot project will allow us to gather valuable data about the impact of nutrition on health for the most marginalized seniors in our community. We hope that this data can provide a foundation for development of a longer-term, targeted nutrition program.”

The GPHSF Senior Care Micro Grant program will continue to be an annual program, with the next request for applications opening in August 2026. 

Those who wish to make a donation in support of the GPHSF’s Senior Care Fund can do so via phone or by visiting the website.

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre Announces the Opening of New Donor-Funded Interventional Radiology Suites

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced the completion of a $6 million investment campaign in interventional radiology on Tuesday afternoon.

(From left to right) Dr. Fady Abdelsayed, Interventional Radiologist; Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO and Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC president and CEO. Photo by Felicia Massey.

The event marked another milestone in the $70 million campaign to bring cutting-edge technology and minimally invasive care closer to home for Peterborough City and County patients.

The PRHC Foundation members and PRHC's leadership team thanked donors for making this advancement possible through their continued generosity.

“This is a transformative moment for patient care at PRHC,” said Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation president and CEO. “These world-class suites are already changing lives. Because of donor generosity, PRHC's interventional radiology experts have the advanced tools and space they need to perform even more complex, minimally invasive procedures right here, while innovating for the future.”

All photos by Felicia Massey.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

PRHC said there are five interventional radiologists at the hospital on a 24/7 rotation, performing more than 6,000 procedures annually. They continue to state that they are equipped to care for 20 to 25 patients suffering from critical conditions such as cancer, stroke, organ failure, bleeding and trauma with this expansion of its two existing IR suites. This included replacing out-of-date equipment and creating a third suite for rapid, high-demand procedures. The preparation and recovery area was also expanded to accommodate four additional patients, bringing capacity from 10 to 14.

“Interventional radiology is the future of medicine. Using real-time imaging technologies such as CT, X-ray and ultrasound, we perform procedures through a tiny incision, using only needles, wires and catheters,” said Dr. Fady Abdelsayed, Interventional Radiologist at PRHC. “This means less pain, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays compared to conventional surgery.”

@ptbo_canada The Peterborough Regional Health Centre has announced the opening of new donor-funded interventional radiology suites 🧑‍⚕️ #PTBOCanada #PRHC #peterboroughontario ♬ Meridian - ODESZA

“The three interventional radiology suites, the step-down unit and the prep and recovery area were entirely funded by the donors here today,” said Heighway. “Bringing this to fruition is a really big celebratory moment for the foundation and for the physicians who work here everyday.”

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre Calls On Province of Ontario to Fund Hybrid Operating Room

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) urgently requested funding for a hybrid operating room in the Level 2 Vascular Centre as they addressed the Province of Ontario during a Pre-Budget Consultation on Friday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PETERBOROUGH REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE.

Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC’s President and CEO, says the hospital should already have a hybrid operating room in accordance with the Ontario Health standard.  

“We do more than 1,000 vascular procedures each year, and nearly three quarters of our patients come from outside of Peterborough City and County,” she said. “But our vascular operating room is not properly equipped. According to standards set by Ontario Health, we need a hybrid operating room.”

In 2017, PRHC identified the construction of a hybrid operating room as a key priority for the 600,000 patients it serves across the region. In 2019, the hospital began self-funded construction costing $21 million to create space for several regional program expansions, including the hybrid operating room. Mikula reports that the hospital has been waiting years for approval and the $10 million in funding needed to build the hybrid operating room.

Vascular surgeons perform procedures essential to the hospital's cancer care, dialysis and cardiac programs. According to the PRHC, this time-sensitive care can often require multiple surgeries. A hybrid operating room allows specialized teams to perform multiple open and minimally invasive procedures on the same patient, on the same day, in the same room.

“We’re still unable to provide the appropriate level of care for a Level 2 Vascular Centre, meaning we need to send more complex patients further from home to get the care they need,” said Mikula. “Last year alone, nearly 200 patients were sent to other centres for procedures we should have been able to do at PRHC. This puts our patients and our vascular program at risk.”

PRHC says that Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP noted at the committee proceedings that establishing a hybrid operating room at the hospital requires a comparatively small investment by the Ministry of Health, as the space and the equipment are already funded by the hospital and the PRHC Foundation, which have committed to raising $6 million toward the project as part of the $70 million campaign.

“We believe that in the context of hospital capital projects, which now tend to run into the billions of dollars, that a $10 million ask would be a huge win for a relatively very small price tag,” said Mikula. “This investment will yield a huge leap forward in vascular care for our patients, and it’s what my colleagues and I need to do our job to the best of our abilities. It will help us save lives.”

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