ohtn

Seniors and Caregiver Fair - Wednesday, November 4

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 19:33:38 GMT

Following the success of last year's event, St. Peter’s Anglican Church is welcoming seniors, caregivers, families and community members back for its second annual Seniors and Caregiver Fair this November.

The fair brings together local organizations and community partners offering programs, services, education and support for older adults and caregivers across Northumberland County.

Event Details

When: Wednesday, November 4
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: St. Peter’s Anglican Church: 240 College Street, Cobourg

Connect With Local Supports

The Seniors and Caregiver Fair is an opportunity to explore the many programs and services available to support older adults, caregivers and families in our community.

Visitors can:

Meet local organizations and service providers
Learn about programs and supports available in Northumberland County
Ask questions and get information about services that may be helpful to them or someone they care for
Connect with community resources in one convenient location

For caregivers, finding the right information or knowing where to turn for support can sometimes feel overwhelming. Bringing organizations together in one place makes it easier to ask questions, make connections and discover resources that can help.

The fair is also a chance for seniors and older adults to connect with organizations that can support their health, well-being, independence and quality of life.

Whether you're a senior looking to explore local resources, a caregiver supporting a loved one, a family member looking for information, or simply interested in learning more about services in your community, you're invited to attend.

Rebound Child & Youth Services: Kilometers 4 Kids - Saturday, October 17

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 19:33:36 GMT

Rebound Child & Youth Services is inviting the community to get moving this fall at Kilometers 4 Kids , a family-friendly event supporting local youth and mental health.

Participants can walk, run or ride either a 1 km or 5 km route , making the event an opportunity for people of all ages and activity levels to take part.

Event Details

When: Saturday, October 17
Start Time: 9:15 a.m.
Where: Victoria Hall, Cobourg

Move for Mental Health

Kilometers 4 Kids is about more than getting active. Funds raised through the event help empower local youth and support the work of Rebound Child & Youth Services.

The event offers an opportunity for families, friends and community members to spend time together while supporting mental health and well-being for young people in our community.

Whether you're looking to walk, run or ride, there are options for different ages and abilities. Participants can choose the 1 km or 5 km route and take part at their own pace.

Gather your family, friends or teammates and join Rebound for a morning of movement in support of local youth.

Registration is available at: rcvs.ca/k4k2026

Trent Hills Seniors Day - Wednesday, October 7

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 19:33:34 GMT

Seniors and older adults in the Trent Hills community are invited to join local organizations and community partners for Trent Hills Seniors Day , an afternoon focused on information, education and resources to support independent living.

Hosted by the Municipality of Trent Hills Fire Department and community partners, the event will feature presentations tailored to help seniors continue living independently and confidently in their own homes.

Event Details

When: Wednesday, October 7
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Sunny Life Recreation and Wellness Centre: 50 Seymour Quarry Road, Trent Hills

What to Expect

The afternoon will begin with a complimentary lunch , followed by presentations focused on topics and information that can help older adults stay safe, independent and connected in their homes and communities.

Seniors Day is an opportunity to:

Learn about resources and supports available in the community
Get practical information to support independent living
Connect with local organizations and service providers
Ask questions and learn about ways to stay safe and well at home

Events like this provide an opportunity for older adults, caregivers and community members to connect with local services and learn more about the supports available close to home.

Ed’s House & Community Care Northumberland Hike, Bike & Bark for Hospice - Sunday, September 27

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 19:33:31 GMT

Northumberland County is invited to come together this fall for a day of movement, community and remembrance at the annual Hike, Bike & Bark for Hospice in support of Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre.

Hosted by Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre Foundation and Community Care Northumberland, the event brings people, families and furry friends together to celebrate, remember and honour loved ones while raising funds to support hospice care in our community.

Event Details

When: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Where: Victoria Park, Cobourg

Whether you choose to hike, bike or walk with your dog, Hike, Bike & Bark for Hospice offers an opportunity to participate in a way that works for you.

The event is open to community members of all ages and is a chance to gather with family, friends and neighbours while supporting an important local cause.

Funds raised through the event help support hospice services provided through Ed’s House, including care and support for individuals and families facing life-limiting illness. Community-based hospice services and care at Ed’s House are provided at no cost to clients and their families.

The 2026 event will also give participants an opportunity to celebrate and remember the people who have shaped their lives, making the day about more than fundraising. It is a chance for the community to come together in support of compassionate care close to home.

You can participate as an individual, with family and friends, or as part of a team. Visit the event website for registration information, route details, fundraising resources and other event updates.

Learn more: Hike, Bike & Bark for Hospice

Community Care Northumberland Volunteer Fair - Saturday September 26

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 19:33:29 GMT

Looking for a meaningful way to get involved in your community? Community Care Northumberland (CCN) is hosting its 2026 Volunteer Fair, bringing local organizations together to help community members discover volunteer opportunities across Northumberland County.

Whether you are looking to give back, meet new people, build new skills, or find an opportunity that fits your interests and availability, the Volunteer Fair is a chance to connect directly with local organizations and learn how you can make a difference.

Event Details

When: Saturday, September 26
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Cobourg Community Centre

What to Expect

The Volunteer Fair will provide an opportunity to:

Meet local organizations and learn about volunteer opportunities
Discover ways to give back to the community
Connect with organizations that match your interests and skills
Learn how volunteering can make a difference for people across Northumberland County

Volunteers play an important role in supporting community programs and services. Whether you have a few hours to give, are looking for a regular volunteer role, or simply want to explore what's available, the Volunteer Fair is a great place to start. Come out, meet local organizations and find an opportunity that is right for you.

For more information about the Volunteer Fair, contact Community Care Northumberland at volunteer@commcare.ca or 705-653-7564 .

Upcoming Identification and Wellness Clinics improving access to essential services

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:21:31 GMT

Need to replace your ID or connect with essential services?

�� Join us at the Identification and Wellness Clinic – a centralized event offering access to a range of supports.

✅Health Card replacement

✅Academic upgrading

✅Referrals for housing, legal aid & more

Brighton: Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Trinity-St. Andrews United Church.

Cobourg: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northumberland County headquarters.

Caregiver Speaker and Social Hour Series

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:21:26 GMT

The OHT-N and St. Peter’s Anglican Church are partnering to launch a monthly Caregiver Speaker & Social Hour Series aimed at providing education, resources, and peer connection opportunities for caregivers and older adults across Northumberland County.

Series Details

When: Third Thursday of each month

Speaker Session: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Social Hour: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Where: St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 240 College Street, Cobourg

Cost: Free to attend (registration in advance required)

Audience: Open to caregivers, older adults, and community members across Northumberland County

September 17

Am I a Caregiver? Understanding the Caregiver Journey

October 15

Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others: Caregiver Wellness and Mental Health

November 19

Navigating Senior Care: Retirement Living, Long-Term Care, Home Supports & Advance Care Planning

December 10**

Staying Strong, Independent and Well as We Age

January 14

Be Prepared: Emergency Planning for Older Adults and Caregivers

February 11**

Understanding Changes in Behaviour: Practical Strategies for Caregivers

March 18

Planning Ahead: Financial, Legal and Estate Considerations for Aging Adults and Caregivers

** These sessions will be held the second Thursday of the month

Media Interviews:

Weekly Health Beat - Northumberland 89.7 FM

Help Shape the Future of Health Care in Northumberland

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:54:20 GMT

The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is developing its next five-year Strategic Plan, and we want to hear from you.

Whether you've visited a family doctor, received care in the hospital, accessed community support services, cared for a loved one, or simply live in Northumberland County, your experiences and ideas matter. Your feedback will help us better understand the health care needs, challenges and priorities of our community as we plan for the future.

Why Your Feedback Matters

The OHT-N brings together health care providers, community organizations, patients, caregivers, and partners to improve how health and social services are planned and delivered across Northumberland County.

As we develop our next Strategic Plan, we're looking to residents to help identify:

The health and wellness needs that matter most to our community.
Barriers people face when accessing care and services.
Opportunities to strengthen partnerships and improve coordination across the health system.
Priorities that should guide OHT-N's work over the next five years.

Your input will help ensure our Strategic Plan reflects the voices and experiences of the people who live, work, and receive care in Northumberland.

Take the Survey

The survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and your responses will remain confidential.

The survey closes on Friday, September 4.

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Every response helps us better understand the needs of our community and will contribute to shaping a healthier future for everyone in Northumberland.

Northumberland celebrates major milestones in improving access to Primary Care

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:40:29 GMT

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, ON – June 20, 2026 – The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N), in partnership with local primary care providers and health system partners, is celebrating significant progress in improving access to primary care for residents across Northumberland County.

Through a coordinated community-wide effort, Northumberland has successfully cleared its priority Health Care Connect (HCC) waitlist of residents who had registered before January 1, 2025. At the same time local organizations have secured provincial funding to establish and expand Interprofessional Primary Care Teams (IPCTs), increasing access to team-based care for residents.

Together, these achievements support Ontario’s goal of ensuring every resident is connected to a primary care provider or team by 2029.

"These milestones demonstrate what can be achieved when providers and partners work toward a common goal," said Ram Puva, Executive Lead, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland. “By improving access to primary care and expanding team-based care options, we are helping more residents get the right care closer to home.”

Clearing the Health Care Connect Priority Waitlist

In 2025, Ontario challenged Ontario Health Teams and primary care partners to prioritize attaching residents who had been waiting the longest for a family physician or nurse practitioner through Health Care Connect.

In response, OHT-N worked closely with local physicians, nurse practitioners, primary care organizations, Health Care Connect Coordinators and community partners to coordinate attachment efforts and connect residents with available providers.

As a result, Northumberland has successfully cleared its priority HCC waitlist, ensuring all residents registered before January 1, 2025, have been offered attachment opportunities.

While these accomplishments mark significant progress, local partners recognize that demand for primary care continues as new residents move to the area and others become unattached.

To meet this need, Northumberland recently secured provincial funding to establish and expand Interprofessional Primary Care Teams, strengthening local capacity and creating new opportunities to connect residents with team-based care.

Together these initiatives are advancing Northumberland’s Primary Care Access and Attachment Strategy and supporting the broader goal of ensuring that every resident has access to a primary care team by 2029.

Still Looking for a Primary Care Provider?

Residents without a local family doctor or nurse practitioner are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect (HCC), Ontario's centralized patient attachment program.

To register, visit Health811 .

“Access to primary care is the foundation of a healthy community," said Dr. Fraser Cameron, OHT-N primary Care Lead. "We are proud of the progress we’ve made and remail committed to building a stronger, more connected system for everyone in Northumberland."

For more information about Health Care Connect and primary care initiatives in Northumberland, please visit our website .

About the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland brings together health care providers, organizations, patients, caregivers, and community partners to deliver more connected, coordinated care for residents across Northumberland County. By working collaboratively, OHT-N is advancing innovative solutions that improve access, patient experience, provider experience, and population health outcomes.

Featured Interviews

Northumberland 89.7 FM

Consider This Northumberland

Media Contact

Tegan Roberts
Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator
Ontario Health Team of Northumberland
troberts@ohtnorthumberland.ca

OHT-N Releases 2025–2026 Annual Report

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:03:26 GMT

The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is pleased to share its 2025–2026 Annual Report, highlighting a year of collaboration, innovation, and progress toward building a more connected health system for Northumberland County.

The report showcases the collective efforts of OHT-N partners, providers, Experience Partners, and community organizations to improve access to care, strengthen system navigation, and enhance the patient and caregiver experience.

Throughout the year, OHT-N advanced several key priorities, including primary care access and attachment, integrated care for older adults, mental health and addictions coordination, health equity initiatives, and the continued growth of digital navigation tools and resources.

Highlights from the report include:

Continued advancement of primary care attachment initiatives in support of the provincial goal of connecting every resident to a primary care provider or team by 2029
Expansion of the Primary Care Network and support for 72 providers using Online Appointment Booking
More than 5,000 patient encounters through the Rural Outreach Clinic
Launch and evaluation of the Essential Care Partner Program pilot
Growth of the Experience Partner Council and Experience Partners in Projects program
Ongoing development of community navigation resources, including mental health, caregiver, cancer screening, and elder care supports
Strengthened health equity efforts, including support for Indigenous Cultural Safety training and planning for an Indigenous Navigator role

As OHT-N enters the final year of its current strategic plan, the organization remains focused on strengthening partnerships, improving access to care, and planning for the future through the development of a new five-year strategic plan.

We invite community members, partners, and stakeholders to explore the report and learn more about the progress being made to create a more connected, accessible, and patient-centred health system for Northumberland County.

WrapAround for Older Adults Expands Support in Northumberland

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:43:22 GMT

Community Care Northumberland is expanding its WrapAround for Older Adults program thanks to new funding through a three-year Grow Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The WrapAround model brings together older adults, caregivers, community members, volunteers and service providers to create a circle of support around individuals with complex needs. At its core, the program is about helping people identify what matters most to them, build on their strengths and connect with the supports they need to live well.

This new funding will allow Community Care Northumberland to add dedicated WrapAround Facilitators and support more older adults across Northumberland County. The program helps people who may be facing challenges such as social isolation, declining health, caregiver stress, housing instability or difficulty navigating multiple services and systems.

Through the WrapAround process, participants work alongside a team of people they trust—including family members, friends, volunteers, healthcare providers and community organizations—to create a plan that reflects their goals, priorities and unique circumstances. By bringing everyone together around the same table, the program helps build stronger connections, improve coordination and ensure support is centred around the individual.

A key part of the program's success is the dedication of its WrapAround Peer Support Mentors. Through their willingness to listen, offer guidance and walk alongside participants, these volunteers help bring the WrapAround approach to life in a meaningful way.

By strengthening collaboration across health and community services, WrapAround helps older adults remain independent, stay connected to their communities and access support before challenges become crises. This investment will help more older adults in Northumberland receive the coordinated, person-centred support they need to continue living well at home and in their community.

If you know someone who may benefit from WrapAround support, or if you're interested in becoming part of a growing network of volunteers helping older adults thrive in their communities, learn more about the program at ohtnorthumberland.ca/WrapAround . The webpage includes information about referrals, program eligibility and opportunities to get involved.

Webinar: Navigating Senior Care in Northumberland: Understanding retirement living, long-term care and home supports

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:25:58 GMT

Webinar: Navigating Senior Care in Northumberland: Understanding retirement living, long-term care and home supports

Planning for senior care can feel overwhelming whether you are exploring options for yourself, supporting a loved one or helping clients and community members navigate available services.

To help make the process easier, the OHT-N hosted a free virtual one-hour webinar focused on understanding senior care options and available home supports in Northumberland County.

The session featured Daniel Clark, founder of Elderado , alongside Nousha Naweed and Vanessa Bright, Senior Managers from Ontario Health atHome . Together, they provided practical information, resources and guidance to help residents and caregivers make informed decisions about senior care planning.

Participants learnt:

How to explore and compare retirement home and long-term care home options
Important considerations for elder and senior care planning
How to access Ontario Health atHome services and supports
What programs and services are available to help older adults remain supported while at home

Webinar Recording

Recorded on Thursday, June 18

For more information about Ontario Health atHome , please visit:
Home page: https://ontariohealthathome.ca/
Guide to our Home and Community Care Services
Guide to Placement in Long-Term Care Homes

Family-Managed Home Care

For more information about Elderado , please visit:
Home page: https://www.elderado.ca/
Long-term care and retirement home search: https://www.elderado.ca/search
Home care search: https://www.elderado.ca/home-care/search
OHT of Northumberland Retirement Living Availability Registry: https://www.elderado.ca/availability-registry/c/oht-n

To learn more about other local services and supports available in Northumberland, visit:

Seniors and older adult supports: https://www.ohtnorthumberland.ca/seniors-and-older-adult-supports
Caregiver resources: https://www.ohtnorthumberland.ca/caregiver-resources

Senior and elder navigation – retirement and long-term care homes: https://www.ohtnorthumberland.ca/elder-care-navigation

Come Together Northumberland Brings Community, Organizations, and Residents Together in Cobourg

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:35:48 GMT

The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N), in partnership with the Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee (HSJCC), was proud to welcome service providers, community members, caregivers, and residents to the first Come Together Northumberland community event in Cobourg on Friday May 8 at the Cobourg Community Centre.

The event was all about connection and creating space for people across Northumberland County to come together, learn from one another, share resources and strengthen relationships related to mental health, substance use and addictions, homelessness, social services and the justice system.

Throughout the event, 40 organizations hosted information tables and connected directly with attendees, helping residents learn more about the supports and services available in the community. Service providers and organizations also had the opportunity to network and build new connections that will help to improve collaboration across sectors.

The day included an engaging panel discussion exploring the intersections between mental health, addictions, homelessness and the justice system, followed by a powerful keynote presentation from Chad Valyear. Chad shared his personal journey through recovery, offering a message of hope, resilience and the importance of community support.

Adding to the welcoming atmosphere, St. John Ambulance attended with therapy dogs during the open house sessions, creating moments of comfort and connections throughout the day. Feedback from attendees and participating organizations highlighted how valuable the event was. Many shared that they learnt something new and appreciated the opportunity to better understand the supports available across Northumberland and indicated they would attend a future Come Together Northumberland event again. Participating organizations noted the value of meeting face-to-face with partners, residents and other service providers to help create new partnerships, connections, and referral opportunities across sectors.

Come Together Northumberland reinforced the importance of collaboration and relationship-building in creating more connected and accessible systems of care and support for residents across the region.

OHT-N extends sincere thanks to all participating organizations, speakers, volunteers, staff, attendees, and community members who contributed to the success of the event.

Primary Care Expansion Announcement in Northumberland County

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:33:30 GMT

PORT HOPE, ON — The Ontario government is taking the next steps to deliver its Primary Care Action Plan, which is on track to connect everyone in the province to a family doctor or primary care provider by 2029.

Today, David Piccini, MPP, Northumberland-Peterborough South announced at the Community Health Centres of Northumberland, that as part of this plan to connect everyone in Ontario to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team, the Ontario government is investing more than $2.2 Million to connect 5,000 people to primary care in Northumberland County.

"This investment is about delivering real results for people here in Northumberland,” said David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament, Northumberland-Peterborough South. “By connecting to 5,000 more residents to primary care, we’re improving access to care across the region and building a stronger, more resilient local health system. It also supports the incredible healthcare workers on the front lines, giving them the tools and team-based resources they need to continue delivering high-quality care close to home.”

The Northumberland County Primary Care Network (PCN) of the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) came together throughout the Fall of 2025 with a shared goal of attaching patients and expanding interprofessional services for Northumberland County.

The Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN), Trent Hills Family Health Team (THFHT), and Northumberland Family Health Team (NFHT) with an expansion of services to Ganaraska Family Health Organization and Cobourg Family Health Organization were funded through the latest call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan, with all 124 teams receiving funding expected to connect another 500,000 patients to primary care across Ontario. Each team has established a plan to attach a high proportion of unattached people in their community, with a priority of those on the Health Care Connect waitlist.

All of the funded organizations deliver unique services that support residents in Northumberland County. With the support of family physicians and nurse practitioners, they will formally attach an additional 5,000 patients and extend access to interprofessional, team-based primary care to more than 15,000 residents who were previously without it.

These teams are working with our provincial partners at Health Care Connect to attach new and local patients to a family physician or nurse practitioner.

Through the 2026 Budget, the province is also increasing overall funding for the plan to a total of $3.4 billion between 2025 and 2029.

"This investment demonstrates what can be achieved when partners across the health system unite around a shared commitment to improving access to care. Expanding interprofessional primary care teams will connect more residents to continuous, high quality care while strengthening the health system as a whole. It marks an important step forward for Northumberland County." – Susan Walsh President and CEO Northumberland Hills Hospital, and Co-Chair of OHT-N Collaboration Council.

"Team-based primary care is one of the most effective ways to improve access and the patient experience. By building on existing team-based care and expanding capacity through collaboration we can attach more people to care while also supporting providers. This approach helps create a more connected system for our community”. – Ed Ganon, Executive Director Lakeview Family Health Team and Co-Chair OHT N Collaboration Council.

"As a physician, I see firsthand the impact that access to primary care has on patients’ health and well-being. This investment will allow more people to be connected to a primary care team where they can receive preventative care, manage chronic conditions and build ongoing relationships. It also reinforces our ability to work as interprofessional teams, improving both patient outcomes and provider capacity across the system." – Dr. Fraser Cameron, Physician Lead, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland.

The province has also exceeded its 2025-2026 attachment goal under the Primary Care Action Plan, which was to connect 300,000 patients to a primary care provider by March 31, 2026. As of January 1, 2026, the province has already attached 330,000 people to care in 2025-2026, surpassing its goal by more than 30,000 with three months still to go.

"Through our Primary Care Action Plan, we are connecting more people to care and have already exceeded our 2025-26 attachment target,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By connecting more families to care in Northumberland, our government is taking the next step toward connecting everyone in the province to primary care by 2029."

Through  Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care , the Ontario government continues to take bold and decisive action to grow the province’s highly skilled health-care workforce and ensure people and their families have access to high quality care, closer to home, for generations to come.

QUICK FACTS

Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team is drawing on best-in-class models of care to implement its action plan, supported by the government’s investment of more than $3.4 billion to connect approximately two million more people to primary care by 2029, which will achieve the government’s goal of connecting everyone in the province to primary care.
The government is making significant progress on its goal of clearing the Health Care Connect waitlist as of January 1, 2025. That waitlist has been reduced by more than 87 per cent as the plan continues to hit its targets and deliver faster access to high-quality care.
Ontarians looking to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner can register with Health Care Connect or call 811. • Interprofessional primary care teams connect people to a range of health professionals that work together under one roof, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, physician assistants, physiotherapists, social workers, dieticians and pharmacists, helping patients to receive more connected and convenient care.
Since 2018, Ontario has added nearly 20,000 additional physicians to its health care workforce, including an over 14 per cent increase in family doctors.

"I want to thank the Province for taking this step. Connecting more Northumberland residents to team-based primary care is key to improved health outcomes for our community. This investment reflects the strength of leadership and collaboration among local health care partners, and a shared commitment to improving access to care. Expanding team-based services will enhance the patient experience and build a more integrated, responsive health system for residents across Northumberland." - Bob Crate, Warden, Northumberland County

"This investment by the Province is a step toward connecting all residents to timely and equitable primary health care professionals across our region. Supporting primary care access is essential to the health and well-being of our community." - Olena Hankivsky, Mayor, Municipality of Port Hope

Check out recent media interviews to learn more about this funding announcement:

Ontario Morning with Ramraajh Sharvendiran

Media Contact

Tegan Roberts

Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

289-215-2590

troberts@ohtnorthumberland.ca

MPP Contact

Chloe Carnegie Office of MPP David Piccini

905-372-4000

chloe.carnegie@pc.ola.org

Building Resilience and Supporting Wellness: The Impact of the RISE Program

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:52:41 GMT

Access to timely, compassionate mental health support and preventative healthcare is essential to building a healthier community. Through the RISE program, the Northumberland Family Health Team (NFHT) is helping individuals take meaningful steps toward improved wellness, offering accessible, evidence-informed care close to home.

As a valued partner of the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N), NFHT continues to play a critical role in strengthening integrated care across the region.

RISE, which stands for Reach Inward and Shift Each Day, is a structured group program designed to share wellness information, create social connections, and support participants in navigating everyday health challenges. Grounded in practical tools and guided by a professional social worker, dietitian and pharmacist, this program delivers a proactive, wellness-focused approach centred on sustainable behaviour change and whole-person care.

A key part of the program is that it is shaped by participants themselves. Topics are identified based on what matters most to those taking part, whether that is managing chronic pain, improving nutrition, understanding medications, supporting mental health and emotional well-being, or building healthier routines. The RISE team then brings forward information, tools, and resources in response, creating a program that is flexible, relevant and grounded in real-life experiences.

Offered as part of NFHT’s broader services, RISE is one of several group-based programs that provide education, skill-building, and peer connection in a supportive environment. The program is open to the community, making it accessible to individuals beyond those currently rostered with the Northumberland Family Health Team.

Participants in the program can expect to:

Learn practical coping strategies to support healthy living and lifestyle changes
Build resilience and confidence in navigating life’s challenges
Connect with others who share similar experiences
Gain tools to support long-term wellness such as incorporating nutritious eating, physical movement, and mindfulness into daily life
Discover local and complementary health resources

Each session brings together multiple perspectives, helping participants better understand how different aspects of their health are connected. Conversations may explore how nutrition impacts both body and mind, how stress affects overall wellbeing, and how medications, supplements, and treatment options can support or impact health, including considerations such as side effects and deprescribing.

By focusing on both education and empowerment, RISE helps individuals move forward with greater confidence and a stronger sense of control over their overall wellness.

The RISE program reflects the strength of a team-based care model. At NFHT, patients have access to an interprofessional team that includes physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and other health professionals working together to support whole-person care.

One of the key strengths of the RISE program is its focus on early intervention. By providing timely, structured support, the program helps prevent mental and physical health challenges from escalating and reduces the need for more intensive services later on.

This proactive approach aligns closely with the goals of OHT-N, improving access to care, reducing system pressures, and supporting individuals earlier in their health journey.

In addition to RISE, NFHT offers a range of complementary programs, including stress management, anxiety support, and mindfulness-based sessions, creating a continuum of care tailored to individual needs.

Learn more by visiting the Northumberland Family Health Team website .

Supporting Youth, Strengthening Community: The Impact of the Youth Wellness Hub Ontario - Northumberland

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:55:56 GMT

Young people in Northumberland County now have a dedicated place to turn for support, connection, and care, thanks to the Youth Wellness Hub Ontario – Northumberland (YWHO-Northumberland). The Hub is a project led by Rebound Child & Youth Services and supported by a Collaborative Partnership Team of local organizations who gather input, collaboratively plan and implement services. The partners include Community Health Centres of Northumberland, YMCA Northumberland, Northumberland Hills Hospital, Municipality of Port Hope, and Community Living & Respite Northumberland.

The hub represents a significant step forward in improving access to youth-focused services across our community.

Located in Port Hope, the YWHO-Northumberland offers free, low-barrier services for youth aged 12 to 25. Designed as a “one-stop shop,” the hub brings together a wide range of supports under one roof.

Services include:

Mental health and substance use supports
Primary care
Peer mentorship
Education, employment, and housing supports
Community Cupboard
Life skills programming and recreational activities
Shower and laundry facilities

By integrating clinical care with social and community supports, the hub creates a welcoming environment where youth can feel safe, supported, and empowered to take the next step in their wellness journey.

What makes the hub truly unique is its commitment to co-design. The YWHO-Northumberland was developed in collaboration with youth, families, and community partners to ensure services reflect real needs and lived experiences. A dedicated youth advisory committee continues to play an active role, meeting monthly to help shape programs, provide feedback, and ensure the hub evolves alongside the needs of young people in the community.

This approach helps remove traditional barriers to care. Youth can access primary care services through self-referral, without needing a health card, and can choose to connect in-person or virtually. The hub also has the capacity to offer transportation support for booked appointments, helping ensure that lack of access to transportation is not a barrier to care.

As the lead agency, Rebound has played a critical role in bringing this vision to life. With decades of experience supporting children, youth, and families in Northumberland, Rebound has built strong partnerships and a deep understanding of local needs.

Through its leadership, the hub has already demonstrated meaningful impact by:

Expanding access to integrated mental health and wellness services
Creating a centralized access point for youth supports
Strengthening collaboration across health and community partners
Increasing early intervention opportunities for young people

The hub is also part of the broader Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario network, which aims to address gaps in youth mental health and substance use services across the province.

The YWHO-Northumberland reflects the shared goals of OHT-N partners: to build a more connected, accessible, and person-centred health system.

By bringing services together and focusing on prevention, early intervention, and whole-person care, the hub is helping to reshape how young people experience the health system—making it more responsive, more inclusive, and more effective.

Learn more by visiting the Rebound Youth Wellness Hub website .

OHT-N and HSJCC have partnered to present a community event: Come Together Northumberland

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:25:02 GMT

Come Together Northumberland

Northumberland County, ON (April 7, 2026) — The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N), in partnership with the Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee (HSJCC) Northumberland, is proud to present Come Together Northumberland , a collaborative community event taking place on Friday, May 8, 2026 , from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre .

This free to attend, one-day event will bring together service providers, organizations and community members from across Northumberland. The goal is to build awareness of local programs, services and referral pathways related to mental health, addictions, homelessness, human and social services, as well as the justice sector.

“Come Together Northumberland is really about connection and bringing people, services and organizations together in one place,” say Lisa Searle and Tasha Atkinson, Co-Chairs of HSJCC Northumberland. “A big part of our work is strengthening how the justice system, health care and social services work together to better support people with complex needs. This event creates space for those conversations, helps build understanding, and supports more coordinated, compassionate approaches across our community.”

Designed to strengthen connections across sectors, the event also creates space for meaningful dialogue and shared learning between providers and the public.

“I’m really excited to see something like Come Together Northumberland happening in our community,” says Chloe Craig, a Cobourg resident and an OHT-N Experience Partner volunteer. “It gives people a chance to learn what supports are available for mental health, addictions, homelessness, social justice and human services. It’s not always easy to know where to go for help, so bringing everything together like this really matters.”

“At OHT-N, we’re focused on making it easier for people to access the care and services they need,” says Ram Puva, Executive Lead, OHT-N. “Events like this showcase the range of supports available across Northumberland and help strengthen the relationships that enable more collaborative care. By coming together across sectors, we can better support the whole person and improve their overall experience.”

Event Highlights:

9 to 11 a.m. – Networking and information exchange for service providers (closed to the public)
11 a.m. to Noon – Panel discussion exploring the intersection of mental health, addictions, homelessness and the justice system (open to all)
Noon to 1 p.m. – Guest speaker: Chad Valyear, peer support worker and recovery advocate (open to all)
1 to 3 p.m. – Community open house (open to all)

Organizations are encouraged to share this opportunity with staff and networks, and community members are invited to attend and learn more about the supports and services available across Northumberland.

If you have questions for the panel discussion, you can submit them here: Come Together Northumberland - Questions for the panel .

Organizations hosting a table:

Campbellford Memorial Hospital
Canopy Support Services
Career Edge
Canadian Mental Health Association - HKPR
Cobourg Police Service
Community Care Northumberland
Community Health Centres of Northumberland
Community Liaison Committee - 310 Division St
Community Living Respite - Employee Assistance Resource Network
Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre
FourCAST
Greenwood Coalition
The Help Centre
Inclusion Northumberland
Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre
Kawartha-Pine Ridge District School Board
Kinark
Lakelands Public Health
New Canadians Centre
Northumberland Community Legal Centre
Northumberland Community Paramedics
Northumberland County - Social Services
Northumberland Family Health Team
Northumberland Hills Hospital - Community Mental Health
Ontario Health at Home
Ontario Health Team of Northumberland
Ontario Provincial Police
Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN)
Port Hope Police Service
Private Counselling Offices; Cobourg Counselling, Hello Counselling Services, Rhapsody Psychotherapy and Counselling
Quinte West Alcoholics Anonymous
Transition House
Victim Services of Peterborough and Northumberland
Watton Employment Services
Youth Wellness Hub Ontario / Rebound Child and Youth Services
YMCA Northumberland

Check out recent media interviews to learn more about Come Together Northumberland and what to expect at the event:

Media Contact:

Tegan Roberts
Ontario Health Team of Northumberland
troberts@ohtnorthumberland.ca

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Welcomes New Executive Lead

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:13:56 GMT

Northumberland County, ON – The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ram Puva as its new Executive Lead, effective Monday, March 16, 2026.

Ram Puva joins OHT-N with more than a decade of leadership experience across Ontario’s healthcare system, spanning hospital, regional, and provincial environments. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering collaboration among partners, enhancing care delivery, and supporting integrated, system-wide approaches to leadership.

Most recently, Ram held a senior leadership role with Southlake Health, where he provided enterprise leadership within the Regional Cardiac Centre, supporting quality, safety, and operational performance across a complex clinical program. His previous experience also includes leadership roles with The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario Health’s Trillium Gift of Life Network, and the South East Local Health Integration Network.

As Executive Lead, Ram will guide the continued advancement of OHT-N’s priorities, including strengthening collaboration across sectors, improving care coordination, and advancing a more connected and integrated health system for residents of Northumberland County. Reporting to the OHT-N Collaboration Council through the Co-Chairs, he will work closely with partners, stakeholders, staff, and community members to support system planning and implementation, and to ensure alignment with Ministry of Health and Ontario Health priorities.

In this role, Ram will also provide leadership to the core OHT-N team responsible for implementation, including project management, population health management, quality improvement, communications, engagement, and administrative functions. He will hold operational accountability for the OHT-N budget, as approved by the Collaboration Council.

The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is a collaborative network of local health and social care partners working together to deliver more integrated and coordinated care for residents across Northumberland County. Guided by a commitment to person-centred care, health equity, and meaningful community engagement, OHT-N brings organizations together to improve how people experience care across the system.

This appointment marks an important step forward as OHT-N continues to build on its foundational work and advance initiatives that support better health outcomes and experiences for the communities it serves.

Media Contact:
Tegan Roberts
Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator
Ontario Health Team of Northumberland
troberts@ohtnorthumberland.ca

Vital Signs: February 2026

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:54:15 GMT

In this issue:

Welcome to the first edition of the Northumberland Primary Care Network Newsletter.

As we continue to strengthen primary care integration across the Ontario Health Team

of Northumberland (OHT-N), our goal is to keep all primary care providers informed,

connected, and supported in the work that is done every day for our residents.

SCALE Together: An In-Person Mental Health and Wellbeing Program for Caregivers in Northumberland

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:08:36 GMT

SCALE Together: Nurturing Mental Health & Wellness for Caregivers

Caregivers across Northumberland are invited to participate in SCALE Together (Supporting Caregiver Awareness, Learning and Empowerment), an in-person program designed to support caregiver mental health, resilience, and well-being. Offered this winter through a partnership between the Northumberland Family Health Team (NFHT), the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N), Seniors Care Network, and the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO), SCALE Together provides caregivers with practical tools, shared learning, and meaningful peer connection.

Date: Tuesdays - February 3 to March 31

Time: 12:00 to 1:30pm

Location: Sessions are held in person at Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre (1301 Ontario Street, Cobourg)

The program combines psychoeducational webinars with facilitated, in-person group discussions that allow caregivers to reflect on weekly topics and connect with others who share similar experiences.

SCALE Together focuses on common and often challenging caregiving emotions, including burnout, guilt, overwhelm, grief, anger, isolation, and identity loss. Weekly topics include resetting within the caregiving journey, managing stress through the power of noticing, navigating grief and helplessness, setting boundaries, and rediscovering oneself through self-compassion. Participants also receive workbooks offering practical strategies, tools, and resources to help them cope more effectively with caregiving demands.

In addition to group learning, participants have optional access to free and confidential online group and/or individual counselling through the Ontario Caregiver Organization. To receive the maximum benefit from counselling supports, caregivers are encouraged to attend the weekly webinars. Space is limited, and registration is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

To register or learn more – contact the Northumberland Family Health Team:
Phone: 289-252-2139

Email: info@nfht.ca

If you cannot attend in-person and would like to participate, you can register directly through the Ontario Caregiver Organization for their virtual option. More Information & Registration Link

Caregivers who may have missed the first session are still welcome to join the remaining weeks.

Caregivers can also access the Ontario Caregiver Organization’s 24/7 Helpline at 1-833-416-2273 for additional support.

Weekly Topics:

Week 1: “I feel burned out”: Resetting within your Caregiving Journey

Week 2: “I feel like I am not doing enough”: Challenging Feelings of Guilt and Failure

Week 3: “I feel overwhelmed”: Managing Caregiving Stress through the Power of Noticing

Week 4: “I don’t know how to change things”: Navigating Grief and Helplessness in Caregiving Relationships

Week 5: “I feel angry and resentful”: Navigating Difficult Emotions within Caregiving Relationships

Week 6: “Who am I aside from being a caregiver?”: Rediscovering Yourself by Embracing Self-Compassion

Week 7: “I feel like nobody appreciates me”: Setting Boundaries within the Caregiver Relationship

Week 8: “I feel alone”: Creating Meaningful Connections

*NEW!* Q&A Week 9: “I still have so many questions” with Michal Goldstein

Pilot of Northumberland County’s first Essential Care Partner Program now available at Northumberland Hills Hospital

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 14:05:49 GMT

Members of the NHH/OHT-N Essential Care Partner Working Group. The inter-disciplinary team—including primary care, nursing, allied health, social work, home care, clinical information, ward clerks, leadership, volunteers and people with lived experience—co-designed and will monitor NHH’s Essential Care Partner Pilot project with guidance from the Ontario Caregiver Organization.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Friday, November 7, 2025— Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) and the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland are pleased to announce the launch of Northumberland County’s first Essential Care Partner (ECP) Pilot Program .

Created with guidance from the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) , the pilot program formally acknowledges the critical role of caregivers in the hospital setting.

The ECP Program, which recognizes one or two individuals, chosen by the patient, has three key pillars: identify the caregiver (or caregivers); include the caregiver as part of the care team; and, support the caregiver. Building on lessons learned from the pandemic, in the event of an outbreak, ECPs will receive training and personal protective equipment to enable them to continue to have access to the patient they support in alignment with infection prevention and hospital policies.

Launched at NHH on November 3, the ECP Program is now available to all admitted patients on the hospital’s first floor (1A/1B) units, inclusive of Restorative Care, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Integrated Stroke and Palliative Care.

Participation is optional, and ECPs—chosen by the patient, with the consent of the caregiver identified—do not replace professional staff roles.

“Guided by NHH’s Experience Framework and shared purpose of People First, the ECP pilot aims to build on informal practices that are already in place at NHH to formally acknowledge the critical role caregivers play in supporting patients. Credit goes to the inter-disciplinary ECP Working Group, which includes primary care, nursing, allied health, social work, home care, clinical information, ward clerks, leadership, volunteers and people with lived experience, which co-designed this pilot. There is much wisdom in this group and our pilot will be stronger because of the input that was so generously shared,” says Jennifer Gillard, Vice President, Patient Experience, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships and executive sponsor.

“As a full-time caregiver myself, I think the ECP program will be vital to strengthening trust between families and the care team, reducing caregiver stress, 1 and connecting caregivers with resources to assist them in navigating their caregiver journey,” says Howard Goodfellow, volunteer with the OHT-N Experience Partner Council and a member of the ECP Working Group. “I am really pleased to see this program come to Northumberland and hope to see it expand beyond the pilot and throughout the County. It has been a pleasure to be part of the working group at NHH.”

“This project was identified as a priority of our patient and caregiver partners in the early days of our OHT,” says Andrea Groff, Executive Lead of the OHT-N. “It is a beautiful example of what we can achieve when we work together with patients and caregivers. We look forward to seeing the impact on patients, caregivers and providers and, as appropriate, supporting expansion in our County.”

Upon admission to one of the 1A/1B units at NHH, patients are now invited to identify the caregiver or caregivers important to them. ECPs may be family members, friends, or paid caregivers, including but not limited to a Substitute Decision Makers or Powers of Attorney.

Once identified as a participating ECP, caregivers will receive a badge identifying them as part of the care team, and support will be provided in the form of resources, training, and materials to assist in their caregiving. For details please see the new ECP section under the Patients tab on the hospital website here: Essential Care Partner Pilot Program

Media contacts:

Micol Marotti

NHH Communications Officer

905-372-6811 ext. 4009

mmarotti@nhh.ca

Tegan Roberts

Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator

289-215-2590

troberts@ohtnorthumberland.ca

Lung Cancer Screening

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:15:32 GMT

Screening for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Ontario despite being one of the most preventable. When caught early, treatment options and outcomes are much better.

In Ontario, lung cancer screening uses a low-dose CT scan (LDCT) .

About LDCT:

Low radiation : It uses a smaller amount of radiation than a regular CT scan.
Better detection : It can spot small nodules in the lungs that are often missed by X-rays.

Getting screened in Northumberland

If you are wondering how to get started, ask your health provider to refer you to the Ontario Lung Screening Program, or if you don’t have access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner call the Lakeridge Health Oshawa Ontario Lung Screening Program at 905-576-8711 extension 34449 to make an appointment with a nurse.

Who should be screened?

This screening is for people without symptoms who are at high risk of lung cancer.

You may qualify if:

If you are between 55 and 80 years old
Have smoked cigarettes for 20 years or more (even if not consecutively).

If you already have symptoms or are undergoing investigation for lung issues, screening is not the right step. Your doctor can guide you through a diagnostic evaluation instead.

How often should you be screened?

Once a year : Once eligible, you are offered a low-dose CT scan every year.
For up to three years , or until medical advice suggests otherwise.

How Screening Works

Talk to your healthcare provider about your risk (smoking history, age, health).
Get referred to the Lung Screening Program (OLSP).
Meet with a screening navigator who will walk you through the process, answer questions, and confirm your eligibility.
Have your Low-Dose CT scan . It is quick, painless, with lower radiation than a standard CT scan.
Review your results:

If results are normal , you will be invited back next year (if still eligible).
If something suspicious is found, you may undergo further testing (more imaging, biopsy, etc.).

Know the symptoms

Screening is designed for people without symptoms . If you notice any of the following talk to your healthcare provider right away:

Persistent or worsening cough
Coughing up blood or rust-coloured phlegm
Chest pain when breathing deeply or coughing
Shortness of breath or wheezing
Frequent lung infections (pneumonia, bronchitis)
Unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite or fatigue

Take Action

If you are 55-80 years old , have smoked daily for at least 20 years , and are covered by OHIP, consider speaking with your doctor or nurse practitioner about the Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Program. Early detection can make all the difference.

For more information and to find out how to get screened, visit Cancer Care Ontario’s lung screening page or talk to your healthcare provider.

Looking for services outside of our community? Visit checkforcancer.ca .

OHT-N and Community Health Centres of Northumberland partner to host Women’s Health Event

Tue, 06 May 2025 12:09:00 GMT

OHT-N and Community Health Centres of Northumberland partner to host Women’s Health Event

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) and Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN) are partnering to offer a free Women’s Health event on Saturday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CHCN’s Port Hope (99 Toronto Road) location.

The inclusive event, open to all women and anyone with a cervix including Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary people, will offer cervical cancer screenings, educational health information and support to those who may experience barriers accessing screening and resources, including patients without a family doctor.

“Women’s health is foundational to building strong families and communities,” says Taryn Rennicks, Executive Director of Community Health Centres of Northumberland. “Our hope for this event is to emphasize the importance of all individuals with a cervix seeking support, educating themselves and prioritizing regular screenings to protect their health and well-being, without common barriers such as access to primary care, transportation, childcare, and more.”

The event will focus on women’s health at all stages of life, including prenatal and postnatal care, cancer screening, gender-affirming care, social prescribing, and pelvic floor physiotherapy. Dr. Barbara Weiss, a local naturopathic doctor specializing in digestive disorders, hormone health and healthy aging, will also deliver a talk on perimenopause and menopause, beginning at 10 a.m.

Members of the public, between the ages of 25-75, in need of cervical cancer screening and those wishing to learn more about perimenopause, menopause or women’s health services available in Northumberland County are encouraged to attend.

“Cervical cancer screening remains a cornerstone of women’s health. It enables early detection, providing a critical window for timely intervention and treatment. With regular screening, cervical cancer is not only highly preventable but also highly treatable. We urge all eligible individuals to stay current with their screenings - this simple, proactive step can make a profound difference in protecting long-term health.” Kaitlin Loudon, Primary Care & Community Engagement Lead, Central East Regional Cancer Program

Pre-registration for cervical cancer screenings is required. To check your eligibility and to register, please call 905-885-2626 ext. 300 or book online at chcn.me/ohtn-cervical-screening . Transportation and childcare will be also available to attendees if required.

OHT-N launches new website to improve healthcare system navigation for Northumberland County residents

Thu, 01 May 2025 19:04:08 GMT

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland launches new website to improve healthcare system navigation for Northumberland County residents

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Thursday, May 1, 2025 – The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, featuring an integrated system navigation platform designed to better support patients, caregivers, residents and healthcare providers across our community.

The user-friendly website (https://www.ohtnorthumberland.ca) was developed with a focus on the patient and caregiver experience, offering tailored resources and accessible information aligned with OHT-N’s core priority areas. This includes:

Access to primary and speciality care , including coordinating care pathways for those without access to a primary care provider
Services for seniors and older adults with complex conditions , helping individuals to maintain independence, sustain their health and age well at home
Mental health and addiction support , with a focus on prevention, early intervention, continuous care and crisis response

The website also highlights OHT-N’s collaborative efforts in spearheading new initiatives to address identified community needs. This includes the expansion of the Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne, a partnership with the Township of Cramahe.

“The goal of OHTs is to create a connected, sustainable healthcare system in which people can more easily access the care and support they need,” says Susan Walsh, NHH President and CEO and co-chair of the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (with Taryn Rennicks, Executive Director, Community Health Centres of Northumberland.) “We’ve heard from patients and caregivers that navigating services can be challenging. This new website was developed in direct response to these concerns, offering a trusted, one-stop resource for local health services and supports.”

“As Chair of the Experience Partner Council , I’ve heard first-hand how frustrating it is for patients and caregivers to hunt through dozens of sites just to find the right clinic, service, or community program,” says Suzanne, Lawson. “By bringing attention to our local health organizations, highlighting primary and acute-care services, and featuring where to access caregiver resources on one intuitive navigation platform, this redesigned website turns that maze into a single front door—saving time, reducing stress, and letting people focus on their health instead of the search.”

Community members are encouraged to visit the site and provide feedback to help enhance the platform and usability. The website will be regularly updated to reflect changes in local healthcare services and public health information.

For assistance with the service navigation section of the website, or for questions on accessing health and wellness resources in the community, please contact the OHT-N’s community navigation representative at 289-265-0505.

For more information about OHT-N or to explore the new site, visit

https://www.ohtnorthumberland.ca.

Media contacts:

Andrea Groff

Executive Lead

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

905-396-6486

agroff@ohtnorthumberland.ca

Jennifer Gillard

VP, Patient Experience, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships

Northumberland Hills Hospital

905-377-7757

jgillard@nhh.ca

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:28:00 GMT

Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Cancer screening is testing done on people who are at risk of getting cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine. Colorectal cancer screening increases the chance of finding cancer early when it is more likely to be cured. When colorectal cancer is caught early, 9 out of 10 people can be cured. If you have colorectal cancer and do not get screened, you may miss the chance for early and more effective treatment.

The kind of screening test you get depends on whether you are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer or at increased risk of getting colorectal cancer.

Someone is at average risk if they are 45 to 74 years old with no first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Someone is at increased risk if they have a family history of colorectal cancer that includes 1 or more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling, or child) with the disease.

Accessing testing in Northumberland

If you are between 45 to 74 years of age, use a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kit to test for colorectal cancer every 2 years. The FIT kit is an easy at-home stool (poop) test used to check for signs of colorectal cancer. The test only takes a few minutes. You can eat, drink, and take your medications as usual before and after the test.

Ask your family doctor or nurse practitioner to have a FIT kit mailed to your home.

Call 811 to request a FIT kit if you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

You will receive a letter from Cancer Care Ontario with your FIT kit result. A "positive" result does not mean you have cancer. Ask your family doctor or nurse practitioner about further testing with a colonoscopy.

Individuals with an increased risk due to family history:

For individuals with an increased risk due to family history of colorectal cancer, a colonoscopy may be recommended. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will send you for the test. If you think you may be at increased risk of getting colorectal cancer, be sure to speak with your family doctor or nurse practitioner.

If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can book an appointment at at the Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne for assessment and referral for colonoscopy if appropriate. Request an appointment .

When to get screened

Cancer screening is testing done on people who are at risk of getting cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine. Your age and family history help your doctor or nurse practitioner figure out when you should get screened for colorectal cancer and what screening test is best for you.

Visit Cancer Care Ontario: When to get screened for more information.

Types of screening

Screening is the best way of finding colorectal cancer early. Most people ages 45 to 74 are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer, meaning they do not have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It is recommended that people at average risk get screened with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every 2 years.

Fecal Immunochemical Test

A fecal immunochemical test (the recommended colorectal cancer screening test for most people, also called FIT) is a safe and painless at-home cancer screening test. FIT checks someone’s stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colorectal cancer or some pre-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time). Here is what you need to know about the FIT: The test only takes a few minutes to do.

You only need to collect 1 sample.
You can eat and take your medications (including vitamin C and blood thinners) as usual.
Return your completed FIT using the instructions included with your kit. Beginning July 1, 2026 , FIT kits are processed through In-Common Laboratories (ICL) as part of Ontario's ColonCancerCheck program. Follow the instructions provided with your kit to ensure your sample is received for testing.
Cancer Care Ontario will mail you a letter with your test result. Your healthcare provider will receive a copy of your results through the ColonCancerCheck program.
If your test result is abnormal, it does not necessarily mean that you have colorectal cancer or polyps that could become cancer, but it does mean that additional testing is needed. ColonCancerCheck recommends that people with an abnormal result have a colonoscopy within 8 weeks. For more information on abnormal test results and colonoscopy see the Abnormal FIT Result Frequently Asked Questions page on the Cancer Care Ontario website.
If your test result is normal, you should get screened in 2 years using FIT. It is important to keep getting screened with FIT every 2 years until age 74.
If the lab cannot get a result from your test, you will need to repeat it.

CancerCareOntario FIT Instructions

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a colorectal cancer screening test. During the test, a doctor uses a small, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look inside the rectum and sigmoid colon (lower part of the colon). They can also take biopsies (tissue samples) or remove polyps (abnormal growths that form on the lining of the colon or rectum). You do not need sedation (medication that helps you relax or sleep) or need to change your diet for a flexible sigmoidoscopy.
You may qualify for colorectal cancer screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy if:

You are ages 45 to 74.
You are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer: you do not have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) diagnosed with the disease.
You do not have a personal history of polyps that could become cancer (called pre-cancerous polyps) which requires future follow-up.
You do not have inflammatory bowel disease involving the colon (i.e., Crohn’s disease involving the colon or ulcerative colitis).
If you do not have any symptoms that could be linked to colorectal cancer.
If you are due for colorectal cancer screening, which means you have not had a FIT in the past 2 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy in the past 10 years had a normal colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy 10 or more years ago, had small hyperplastic polyp(s) at colonoscopy 10 or more years ago, or had low risk adenoma(s) at colonoscopy 5 or more years ago.

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a test done by a specialist (called an “endoscopist”) at a hospital or clinic. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner has to order a flexible sigmoidoscopy for you. You cannot arrange to get the test on your own.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is a test that allows a doctor to look at the entire colon using a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end. During a colonoscopy, the doctor can also take biopsies (samples of tissue) or remove polyps that can become cancer over time (called pre-cancerous polyps).
A colonoscopy is not recommended to screen people who are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer. However, colonoscopy is recommended to screen people who are at increased risk of getting the disease. Colonoscopy can also be used to test people who have symptoms such as rectal bleeding or diarrhea.
It is very important that people with an abnormal FIT result have a colonoscopy within 8 weeks.

Helpful Resources

ColonCancerCheck Resources:
Abnormal Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Result Frequently Asked Questions | Cancer Care Ontario
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Instructions | Cancer Care Ontario
Colorectal Cancer Canada - Colorectal Cancer | Cancer Awareness & Patient Advocacy Canada

Looking for services outside of our community? Visit checkforcancer.ca

Helpful Websites:

Information source

Cancer Care Ontario. Colorectal Cancer Screening . Cancer Care Ontario, Ontario Health.

Central East Regional Cancer Program. Colorectal Cancer Screening .

Last accessed June 17, 2025.

What's New (Effective July 1, 2026)

Screening now begins at age 45 instead of 50 for people at average risk.
People with one first-degree relative diagnosed at age 60 or older are now considered average risk and should complete a FIT every two years.
People with a stronger family history may need to start screening earlier with a colonoscopy.
FIT kits are now processed through In-Common Laboratories (ICL) as part of Ontario's ColonCancerCheck program.

Cervical Cancer Screening

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:19:00 GMT

Screening for Cervical Cancer

Screening is testing done on people who are at risk of getting cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine. The cervix is a body part that connects the uterus (womb) to the vagina (genital opening). Cervical cancer is cancer in the cervix. The goal of cervical screening is to find cell changes in the cervix before they become cancer.

As of March 2025, cervical screening testing has replaced pap tests as the primary cervical cancer screening that checks for types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer. The test also checks for cell changes in the cervix caused by these types of HPV.

Accessing screening in Northumberland

Make an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner. If you do not have a doctor or nurse practitioner, you can register for Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822 or visit the Health Care Connect website. Cervical screening tests are available by appointment through the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit Sexual Health Clinics . For appointment bookings and locations, or to speak to a Sexual Health Nurse, call 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1205 or visit HKPR Sexual Health Clinics .

When to get screened

You need a cervical screening test every 5 years* if you:

Are a woman, Two-spirit, transmasculine, or nonbinary person with a cervix, and
Are between the ages 25 and 69 years of age, and
Have ever had sexual contact with another person, and
Do not have symptoms, like different bleeding or discharge (clear or yellow fluid) from your vagina (genital opening).

*Most eligible people should get screened every 5 years. Some eligible people may need to get screened more often based on their medical (example: those that are immunocompromised) or screening history (example: HPV positive test results).

Most people can stop cervical screening between the ages of ages 65 to 69. Some people may continue to get cervical screening tests after the age of 69 based on their medical history or screening test result history.

Eligible people need to get cervical cancer screening even if they:

Feel healthy and have no symptoms
Are no longer sexually active
Have only had 1 sexual partner
Are in a same-sex relationship
Have been through menopause
Have no family history of cervical cancer
Have received the HPV vaccine

People who have had a hysterectomy should talk to their doctor or nurse practitioner to see if they need to continue cervical screening.

About screening: Cervical Cancer Screening

The cervical screening test checks for types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can sometimes cause cervical cancer. It also checks for cell changes in the cervix caused by these types of HPV.

The cervical screening test:

Has replaced the Pap test because it is better at helping prevent cervical cancer. The Pap test only checked for cell changes in the cervix, but the cervical screening test can check for cancer-causing types of HPV and cell changes.

Does not check for:
other types of HPV that do not cause cancer
other cancers in the reproductive organs, such as ovarian cancer
sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or HIV/AIDS

Feels like getting a Pap test. A doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife will use a small, soft brush to take cells from the cervix so the lab can test the cells for types of HPV and cell changes. The person doing the test can try to make the test as comfortable as possible.

You will get the results of your cervical screening test by mail. The person who did your test will also get a copy of your results and can answer any questions you may have. They can talk with you about next steps.

To learn more about what happens after your cervical screening test, see Frequently Asked Questions After a Cervical Screening Test .

About the Ontario Cervical Screening Program

The Ontario Cervical Screening Program is an organized screening program run by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) and the Government of Ontario. The program’s goal is to reduce the risk of developing or dying from cervical cancer by increasing the percentage of people with a cervix (women, transmasculine and nonbinary people) who get screened regularly and who have timely and appropriate follow-up of abnormal results.

Helpful Resources

Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit - Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit Sexual Health Clinics
Cervical Cancer Screening:
Cancer Care Ontario - Cervical Cancer Screening Information
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) information:
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV Vaccines: Questions and Answers

Looking for services outside of our community? Visit checkforcancer.ca

Helpful websites:

My CancerIQ | Learn Your Risk

Information source

Cancer Care Ontario. Cervical Cancer Screening . Cancer Care Ontario, Ontario Health. Last accessed February 2, 2023.

Breast Cancer Screening

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:09:00 GMT

Screening for Breast Cancer

Cancer screening is testing done on people who may be at risk of getting cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine. Screening can find breast cancers when they are small, less likely to have spread and more likely to be treated successfully. People ages 40 to 74 have a lower risk of dying from breast cancer when they are screened regularly with mammograms.

Accessing screening in Northumberland

Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) sites offering mammogram appointments in Northumberland County include:

Campbellford Memorial Hospital: visit their website or call 705-653-3104
Northumberland Hills Hospital: visit their website or call 905-377-7795
BlueWater Imaging: visit their website or call 416-462-0064

If you are between the ages of 40 and 74 and meet the OBSP eligibility criteria , you can use MyChart to book a breast screening appointment —no physician referral needed.

Create your account or login to self-refer.

If you think you may be at high risk for breast cancer, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about a referral to the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program based on family and/or medical history. If you do not have a family doctor or access to a nurse practitioner, call 811 to be connected with a primary care provider who will refer you for high risk breast cancer screening.

When to get screened

Screening mammography can find breast cancers when they are small, less likely to have spread and more likely to be treated successfully.

Your age and family medical history help determine when you should get screened: OBSP recommends that most people be screened every 2 years with mammography. OBSP sites in Northumberland County include locations at both Campbellford Memorial Hospital and Northumberland Hills Hospital.

If you are age 30 to 69 and meet any of the following requirements, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about referral to the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program:

You are known to have a gene mutation that increases your risk for breast cancer (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, PTEN, CDH1)
You are a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) of someone who has a gene mutation that increases their risk for breast cancer (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, PTEN, CDH1)
You have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer
You have had radiation therapy to the chest to treat another cancer or condition (e.g., Hodgkin lymphoma) before age 30 and at least 8 years ago

For every 200 women screened in the Ontario Breast Screening Program, about 18 are referred for further tests and 1 will have breast cancer.

About screening: Mammograms

Mammography remains the best screening test for most people. A screening mammogram takes an X-ray picture of the breast and can find breast cancers when they are small, less likely to have spread and more likely to be treated successfully.

Mammograms are considered safe and use a low dose of radiation. The benefits of screening and finding cancer early are more important than any potential harm from the X-ray. Most people will have normal mammogram results.

How effective are screening mammograms?

Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early. While it is possible that mammograms may miss some breast cancers, or that cancers may develop in the time between screens, many studies have shown that regular mammograms reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.

About the Ontario Breast Screening Program

The Ontario Breast Screening Program is a province-wide organized screening program that aims to reduce breast cancer mortality through regular screening. The program provides screening for most people ages 40 to 74, and for people ages 30 to 69 who are confirmed to be at high risk of developing breast cancer.

Eligibility and location for High Risk OBSP

The High Risk OBSP sites help people who may be at high risk of getting breast cancer to undergo genetic assessment. To learn about the eligibility requirements for the High Risk OBSP, see Breast Cancer Screening for Women at High Risk .

For people who have been confirmed to be at high risk of getting breast cancer, High Risk OBSP sites offer yearly screening mammograms and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or screening breast ultrasound if MRI is not medically appropriate). For people with abnormal screening results, the High Risk OBSP sites coordinate follow-up breast assessments (i.e., any additional tests they need). While there are no High Risk OSBP sites in Northumberland County, there are several in neighbouring areas, including:

Lakeridge Health Corporation, Oshawa
Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough
Scarborough Health Network – Centenary, Scarborough
Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay

If you require transportation to a High Risk OBSP site, volunteer driver support is available. For details, visit Community Care Northumberland or call 1-866-768-7778.

Helpful Resources

Campbellford Memorial Hospital – Mammography: Mammography
Northumberland Hills Hospital Diagnostic Imaging: Diagnostic Imaging
Community Care Northumberland: Transportation
Breast Density Information: Breast Density for Screening Participants
Ontario Breast Screening Brochure: OBSP Brochure Not Obvious
Public Health Agency of Canada Brochures: Breast Cancer and Your Risk

Looking for services outside of our community? Visit checkforcancer.ca

Helpful Websites

“Check to protect” - OHT-N partners refresh annual call to action to help minimize spread of respiratory illnesses during holiday season

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 20:57:03 GMT

Check to Protect: Help minimize spread of respiratory illnesses during holiday season

Northumberland County - Friday, November 29, 2024 - As the holiday season approaches, and we gather more in interior spaces, the rates of respiratory illness, including influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 are anticipated to rise in our region and throughout Ontario.

To minimize the impact of respiratory illness in our region, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partners are once again joining forces with a collective ‘call to action’ to help all—patients, caregivers, and providers alike—manage cold and flu season.

The OHT-N call to action has three simple goals:

Remind everyone of the steps we can take, as individuals, to minimize our risk of getting sick this season (and inadvertently spreading viruses to others this season);
Promote additional resources available—beyond primary care offices and the nearest hospital—if we are sick or caring for someone who is sick; and
Help raise awareness of the rising rates of respiratory illness in our community.

Respiratory Disease in Northumberland - What the data are telling us

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU)’s Respiratory Infections Dashboard shares updates on the local rates of respiratory illness, including weekly emergency department visits, hospitalizations and outbreaks including COVID-19, influenza and RSV to support data-driven decisions for community health and well-being.

“Let’s all continue to protect ourselves and our community by staying up to date on our vaccinations, which include influenza, COVID-19 and RSV,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for the HKPR District Health Unit. “Both COVID-19 and flu vaccines are available at local pharmacies and primary care teams. By doing so, we are ensuring our critical health care services are there for those who need them most.”

Check to protect - Simple steps we can take now to minimize the chances of serious illness and community spread of respiratory illness:

Make sure you and your family members’ COVID vaccinations are up to date, meaning you have completed your primary series and, for those 5 years of age and older, you have received a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months of your last dose or infection. COVID-19 vaccinations can be booked locally through the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit or call 1-866-888-4577 ext. 1507. Many pharmacies and some primary care offices continue to offer COVID vaccinations. Learn more about vaccines and where to get vaccinated by visiting ontario.ca/page/covid-19-vaccines

Get a flu shot. Flu shots are given to those aged 6 months and older. Learn more about where to get a flu shot in Northumberland County on the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit's website .

If you or someone you know is a high-risk older adult (60 and up), get the RSV vaccination. Learn more about eligibility or contact the Haliburton, Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 1507.

Wear a mask when indoors in crowded public spaces and physical distancing cannot be maintained or if you are feeling unwell – masking is not currently mandatory in most areas of Northumberland County, but it is a small gesture that is known to have a big impact on stopping the spread of germs. Surgical masks should be properly worn, covering the nose and mouth.

Screen for respiratory symptoms daily and stay home if you are ill. What feels like a minor cold to you could be serious if transmitted to someone else.

Wash your hands often, particularly when out in public. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands.

What to do if you catch a respiratory illness, or if you are a care provider for someone who is sick

Mild symptoms?

Most of us with respiratory symptoms—whether from flu, COVID, RSV or other respiratory infections—will recover on our own and will not require prescription medications. Self-isolate and rest, drink plenty of fluids and take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as able and as needed and directed on the manufacturer’s instructions for fever or muscle aches.

Child with a fever?

Information for families and caregivers on children’s fever and pain medication is a combined effort between the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Canadian Pharmacists Association and four Canadian children’s hospitals. It contains helpful information on fevers and the use of over-the-counter medication.

When to see a doctor or Nurse Practitioner?

There are special considerations for respiratory illness in children. Family Doctor Tips on Caring for Children with Respiratory Symptoms is an excellent resource for answering many common questions – including when to call the doctor or NP’s office. A virtual appointment may be offered in some instances. This is one-way primary care providers can determine if you need to be seen in person.

When to call 911 or go to the Emergency Department?

Emergency Departments (EDs) are very busy places but, in some circumstances, the ED is the only option available for accessing urgent care quickly. Some examples of when you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department: if you are worried that you or someone you are caring for is seriously ill; if your infant, younger than three months old, has a fever; if your child is struggling to breathe or is breathing faster than normal; if you are concerned about the risk of dehydration.

Be aware of other local options for care, outside of the Emergency Department, and hours of operation

Get free telephone access to a Registered Nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Telehealth Ontario service at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY 1-866-797-0007)
Visit the York Super IDA Pharmacy’s new walk-in clinic located at 500 Division Street, Cobourg, inside York Super Pharmacy. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. Call (905) 372-7171 for additional information.
Visit the Port Hope Walk-in Clinic . To learn more about hours of operation or how to book an appointment, please see: Northumberland.ca/PortHopeClinic
For Colborne residents - Contact the Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed over lunch hour), this clinic offers in-person primary care support from a Nurse Practitioner for those who do not currently have a local primary care provider, or those who may need specific temporary support closer to home
Contact a care provider with the East Region Virtual Care Clinic , open seven days a week from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM. To make an appointment, please visit: virtualcareontario.ca
Check the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Your Health Care Options website for information on these and other health-care services in your area

For the sake of the most vulnerable among us—the very young, older individuals, and those whose health is already challenged by chronic health conditions, precarious housing situations or both—we must each continue to do everything in our power to protect our whole community by preserving health care resources for those who need them most.

Thank you, Northumberland, for everything you have done to date.

Contact Us

Reception
Northumberland County Headquarters
555 Courthouse Road
Cobourg, ON K9A 5J6

T. 905-372-3329
Toll Free: 1-800-354-7050
F. 905-372-1696

Know an older adult coping with complex needs? New program now accepting referrals

Tue, 23 May 2023 14:56:00 GMT

New Program for Adults Coping with Complex Needs

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Wednesday, May 24, 2023 - Are you or someone you support feeling worn down from trying to cope with complex needs? Do you feel like some of your needs are not well matched to the supports and services you are receiving today? If you answered yes to both of those questions, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland’s (OHT-N) new support program may be able to help.

Introduced in 2020, the Volunteer Peer Support Program will soon be matching trained peer support facilitators with older adults in Northumberland County. The aim: support those experiencing persistent complex needs and conditions, and their caregivers, with the introduction of our region’s first High Fidelity WrapAround model.

What is WrapAround for older adults?

WrapAround is a proven approach that helps older adults with complex conditions, and their caregivers, achieve their goals. Teams of family, friends, and professionals chosen by the older adult and caregiver come together to ‘wrap’ participants in community supports. Each participant’s strengths, culture and vision for a better life drive the process from beginning to end. Participants choose what they want to work on and how fast they want to work on it. In this way, people are empowered to have a voice and choice in planning the care and support they require.

With a holistic, person-centred approach, WrapAround can assist with many life domains, including housing, safety, finances, spiritual support, healthcare, family dynamics, social networking, recreation, culture/values, mobility and, if required, legal assistance.

Four Phases of WrapAround

In the first phase, Engagement, the groundwork for trust and shared vision between the participant and WrapAround volunteer facilitators is established. The tone is set for teamwork and team interactions that are consistent with WrapAround principles, particularly through initial conversations around strengths, needs, and culture.

During the second phase, Team-Based Planning, team trust and mutual respect are built while the team creates an initial plan of care. It is critical participants feel as though they are heard, that the needs chosen are ones they want to work on, and that the options chosen have a reasonable chance of helping them meet these needs.

In the third phase, Implementation, the initial WrapAround plan is implemented, progress and successes are continually reviewed, changes are made to the plan and then implemented, all while maintaining or building team cohesiveness and mutual respect.

During the fourth and final phase, Transition, plans are made for a purposeful transition out of formal WrapAround to a mix of formal and natural supports in the community. The participant, with the support of their facilitator and team members, plan for potential future challenges.

Participant Eligibility

Older adults residing in Northumberland County who are experiencing complex and persistent needs/conditions or are caring for someone with complex and persistent needs/conditions are encouraged to apply to the program. The program focuses on those who have not effectively had their needs addressed through current services and are agreeable to the WrapAround process.

For the purposes of this program, ’older’ is more a range than a specific age, but it is typically best suited for those 55 and up. If you think this program is right for you or someone you care for, but they are younger than 55, please contact us to discuss.

How to access the Volunteer Peer Support Program

Community Care Northumberland oversees the Volunteer Peer Support Program in partnership with the OHT-N. Community agencies looking to refer a potential participant to the program are invited to complete the referral form . Agency referrals may be faxed to 905-372-3898.

Community members interested in being referred, self-referring, or referring someone they care for are invited to contact Kelly Peterson, the Volunteer Peer Support Program Coordinator, at k.peterson@commcare.ca or phone 905-372-7356 x102.

Feedback from program participants and volunteers

"WrapAround has been a wonderful experience for me. I have connected with my volunteers and always know they are there to support me when needed. For once, I have been left feeling like I have control of my own care and the services I have been connected with. My volunteers created a list of all my strengths, and I was brought to tears knowing I am a valued member of my community and I have purpose. I look at this list often when I am feeling low. Without the support & encouragement of my volunteer facilitators, I would feel overwhelmed by the services in the community and would be hesitant to accept help." – Volunteer Peer Support Program participant

"As a volunteer co-facilitator for the WrapAround program, I am learning a lot about our community and am seeing many varied and caring supports within it. While the challenges that WrapAround participants face can be daunting, they know they are not alone, and they can choose supports that help them move forward with hope.” – Wendy Sheppard, Volunteer Peer Support Program Volunteer Facilitator

“I am grateful to be a volunteer for the WrapAround program. It is rewarding and a much-needed service to our senior community. I am extremely thankful to be paired up with another volunteer that has the same commitment to help our seniors who are making their best efforts to live independently. I feel we were successful in determining our clients needs and creating a helpful team. We had a lot of support from our Volunteer Peer Support Coordinator, which made this experience very worthwhile”. – Mary Lou Secord, Volunteer Peer Support Volunteer Facilitator

Interested in becoming a Peer Support Volunteer? Learn more

About the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is a local team of patients, caregivers, health, and community service providers from across Northumberland County working together to deliver more coordinated care. Drawing on a strong history of collaboration, the OHT-N has come together to improve:

Patient and caregiver experience;
Patient and population health outcomes;
Provider experience; and
Value to the community.

The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Experience Partner Council is recruiting local volunteers with lived experience.

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:07:00 GMT

Do you want to help improve the delivery of health and community care in Northumberland County? Needs

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Monday, March 20, 2023 - Have you or someone you support received care from local health and/or community care services in the past three years? Do you have an interest in working together with service provider partners to improve the delivery of health and community care in Northumberland County? If you answered yes to both of those questions, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) may have the right opportunity for you!

Launched in 2021, the OHT-N Experience Partner Council is working to ensure patients, families and caregivers have a clear and equal voice in advancing local OHT-N priorities for health and community care services. Community volunteers, experience partners are active within all OHT-N governance, planning and project team structures.

OHTs – A new way of working together

Across the province, Ontario Health Teams are forming to find a new way of organizing care to plan and deliver health and community services in a way that is more connected to patients and clients in local communities. Here in Northumberland, where we have one of the province’s first OHTs, impact to date includes:

Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne
Community Paramedicine Program
Coordinated COVID-19 Response
Volunteer Peer Support Program
Collaborative Strategic and Quality Improvement planning
Cancer screening awareness/information

With new projects getting under way this spring, more patient, family, and caregiver participation will be required to ensure sound and sustainable decisions are made, and the right work is prioritized.

A variety of opportunities available to suit different interests, experiences and availability.

With this open call for interest, the OHT-N’s Experience Partner Council aims to expand from a small core Experience Partner Council drawn from OHT-N members to a larger team offering different ways to join the conversation. The original Experience Partner Council will grow in number. As well, new Experience Partner Project Pool, not quite as time intensive as the Experience Partner Council, and best suited to those interested and able to bring their lived experience to particular projects, will also be formed. Finally, a virtual Engage OHT-N experience partner community is planned, to enable smaller, faster issue-by-issue engagement on specific questions or issues before the OHT-N. The size of the OHT-N’s Experience Partner team will fluctuate and be dependent on local interest and OHT-N and Experience Partner priorities.

Anticipated time commitment

Like the opportunities for participation, time commitment will vary. The Experience Partner Council currently meets virtually as a group for monthly meetings, lasting two hours each. In addition to the monthly meetings, most of which are held in the day time, members of the Experience Partner Council also participate – as their experience and interest directs – on OHT-N committees and/or projects. The monthly time commitment and method of engagement for the Experience Partner Project Pool and the Engage OHT-N experience partner community will vary. Activities will be matched with committee/project needs and member input.

How to express interest

Patients, families and caregivers of Northumberland County with an interest in volunteering as Experience Partners are invited to review the Terms of Reference and supporting recruitment documents and complete the Expression of Interest Form .

Please feel free to reach out to the OHT-N via the contacts below, email the OHT-N directly at info@ohtnorthumberland.ca or phone 905-396-6486.

Feedback from current OHT-N partners

"As a patient, there is nothing more important to me than receiving high quality health services in my own community. To have the opportunity to help plan and improve these services so that others in my community can benefit too, is exciting.” – Lisa van der Vinne, Experience Partner of the OHT-N Experience Partner Council.

“It is an opportunity to be part of a team making positive contributions to improve delivery of health and community care to all members of our community.” – Howard Goodfellow, Experience Partner of the OHT-N Experience Partner Council.

“Having individuals with lived/living experience as part of our OHT-N is critical to ensuring all voices are involved in the planning and advancement of health and community care. We hope the three-tier model will encourage people with different time availability to participate and provide their expertise as an Experience Partner.” – Trish Baird, CEO of Community Care Northumberland, and Co-Chair of the OHT-N.

OHT-N set to host series of Preventative Care Fairs throughout Northumberland County

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 15:01:00 GMT

New Program for Adults Coping with Complex Needs

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is set to host a series of Preventative Care Fairs across Northumberland County. Through the Preventative Care Fairs, the OHT-N seeks to raise awareness and provide direct health education on cancer screening.

The drop-in events will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn about risk, prevention, screening guidelines and referral routes for the ‘Big Three’ – breast, cervical and colon cancer. Local and provincial resources will be available to take home and care providers will be on hand to answer questions. The OHT-N has partnered with local public libraries to host three Preventative Care Fair events:

Monday, February 13, 2023 (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - OHT-N Rural Outreach Clinic, 34 Victoria Street, Colborne, ON, K0K 1S0
Monday, February 27, 2023 (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.) - Trent Hills Public Library – Campbellford Branch, 98 Bridge Street E, Campbellford, ON, K0L 1L0
Friday, March 3, 2023 (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) - Cobourg Public Library, 200 Ontario Street, Cobourg, ON, K9A 5P4

Interested in hosting a Preventative Care Fair? Please contact the OHT-N.

Partner Resources

Interested in promoting upcoming Preventative Care Fairs with your network? Check out these resources:

Cervical Cancer Prevention Poster

Path to Prevention Poster - Colon Cancer

Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Poster

Colon Cancer Screening Poster

Preventative Care in Northumberland County Pamphlet

Preventative Care Fairs throughout Northumberland County

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:51:00 GMT

OHT-N set to host series of Preventative Care Fairs throughout Northumberland County

Northumberland County, Tuesday, February 7, 2023 – The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is set to host a series of Preventative Care Fairs across Northumberland County. Through the Preventative Care Fairs, the OHT-N seeks to raise awareness and provide direct health education on cancer screening.

Monday, February 13, 2023 (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - OHT-N Rural Outreach Clinic, 34 Victoria Street, Colborne, ON, K0K 1S0
Monday, February 27, 2023 (1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)- Trent Hills Public Library – Campbellford Branch , 98 Bridge Street E, Campbellford, ON, K0L 1L0
Friday, March 3, 2023 (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) - Cobourg Public Library, 200 Ontario Street, Cobourg, ON, K9A 5P4

Interested in hosting a Preventative Care Fair? Please contact the OHT-N.

Partner Resources

Interested in promoting upcoming Preventative Care Fairs with your network? Check out these resources:

Cervical Cancer Prevention Poster

Path to Prevention Poster - Colon Cancer

Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Poster

Colon Cancer Screening Poster

Preventative Care in Northumberland County Pamphlet

Inaugural multi-year strategic plan launched following locally led cross-sector consultation

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:49:00 GMT

Inaugural multi-year strategic plan launched following locally led cross-sector consultation

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Monday, December 20, 2022 - The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) has launched the region’s inaugural Strategic Plan on health and well-being priorities.

Covering a four-year span inclusive of the consultative process that informed it, the OHT-N’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan seeks to bring together patients, caregivers, community members, health care and community service providers around a Northumberland County-first: three common, cross-sector areas of focus collectively seen as the top priorities to improve health and well-being in the county in the coming years. These areas of focus are:

Improving access to primary and specialty care and services in our region
Supporting older adults with complex conditions to live and age well at home
Improving access and services for those who have mental health and addiction needs

Five supporting ‘pillars’ or enablers have also identified, to ensure Northumberland is well positioned to drive this work forward. They are:

Advocating together and coordinating county-wide solutions
Helping people navigate the system to find the care and support they need
Empowering our community of health and well-being supporters
Creating safe spaces for whole-person care and support where everyone is welcome
Creating the building blocks for a robust OHT-N

“Guided by a vision of ‘many boats, one light’, we’ve been inspired by and very grateful to the hundreds of individuals and organizations that accepted the OHT-N’s invitation to share, discuss and gather data as part of this process, to identify what that ‘light’ (or lights) should be. After proving we could work together very effectively since forming the OHT-N in 2020, and getting reassurance from the province that the OHT model is here to stay, it has been exciting to now set our future together,” said Adrienne Bell-Smith, Executive Director of the Northumberland Family Health Team and co-Chair for the OHT-N.

“Led by a Community Engagement Team of local stakeholders, we worked from March through November, using a mix of surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews. To begin we logged more than 500 touch points with patients, caregivers, community members, health care and community service providers,” said Bell-Smith. “Five ‘Strategy Hives’ with over 170 participants followed, providing opportunities to dive deeper into the challenges and opportunities around the specific themes that emerged.”

“In addition to learning through experience and individual feedback, a review of data unique to our region formed the other part of our work,” added Trish Baird, CEO of Community Care Northumberland who shares the co-Chair role for the OHT-N.

“Population data, housing and homelessness statistics, primary care access data, local Emergency Room Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) data, Alternative Level of Care statistics, information on use of community paramedicine, long-term care wait list statistics and mental health service data and needs are just some of the data points reviewed,” said Baird.

Formed in December 2019 as one of the first OHTs in the province (there are now more than 50), OHT-N partners have to date mounted a successful COVID-19 response, opened a Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne, worked with Northumberland Paramedics to launch a community paramedicine program for older adults living with complex conditions in rural areas and, with Community Care Northumberland, started recruitment and training for volunteers who will form the region’s first Volunteer Peer Support Program assisting older adults living with complex conditions.

In addition to its local focus, one of the distinguishing characteristics of Ontario’s new OHT model is its commitment to equal and authentic patient and caregiver partnership. In addition to representatives from area health care and community service agencies, local patient and caregiver partners have been at the OHT-N table from the earliest days of its evolution, and continue to play a direct role in advancing OHT-N priorities.

“As the Interim Chair of the OHT-N’s Experience Partner Council, and a member of the Community Engagement Team for this Strategic Plan, it has been rewarding and very interesting to have a voice in local planning for health and well-being priority setting,” said Lisa van der Vinne. “We have much work to do to engage and empower patient and caregiver partners around the core areas of primary care, support for seniors, and mental health and addictions, but we have strong working relationships in place and—most important—a common will to move forward. It is an exciting time to be part of this work in Northumberland.”

With this Strategic Plan, the OHT-N will build on what has worked, embark on new areas of focus recommended by the communities served, and look for more opportunities to bring the intentions of the locally-driven OHT model to life.

OHT-N partners issue call to action to preserve health care resources for those who need them most

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:41:00 GMT

OHT-N partners issue call to action to preserve health care resources for those who need them most

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Wednesday, November 17, 2022 - Rates of respiratory illness, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza (flu), are on the rise in our region and throughout Ontario. Together with the ongoing presence of COVID-19, this is putting direct pressure on all areas of our health care system and particularly on primary care offices (family physician/nurse practitioner providers) as well as hospitals.

As colder weather arrives, and we gather more in interior spaces, the rates of these illnesses—and the corresponding demand on our already stretched health care system—will go up.

In an effort to blunt the impact of respiratory illness in our region and preserve already stretched resources for those who will need them the most, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partners are joining forces with an urgent Northumberland ‘call to action’ to help all—providers, caregivers and patients alike—manage what is shaping up to be a challenging few months ahead.

The OHT-N call to action has three simple goals:

Help raise awareness of the rising rates of respiratory illness in our community
Remind everyone of the steps we can take, as individuals, to minimize our risk of getting sick (and inadvertently spreading viruses to others) this season; and,
Promote additional resources available—beyond primary care offices and the nearest hospital—if we are sick or caring for someone who is sick.

Respiratory disease in Northumberland - What the data are telling us

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s Respiratory Diseases Dashboard reports weekly updates each Tuesday on the local rates of respiratory illness, including COVID-19 and influenza. Of particular concern to Dr. Natalie Bocking, our region’s Medical Officer of Health and Health Unit CEO, is the sharp increase in visits to area Emergency Departments.

“Over the last week, hospital emergency departments in Northumberland County have had 242 visits for respiratory and influenza like illness. This is nearly twice the number of weekly visits that were recorded at the beginning of October,” notes Dr. Bocking. “This comes at a time when COVID is very much still with us, and poses a ‘triple threat’, as Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has described it, we cannot ignore.”

For this and other high-level assessments of localized respiratory virus activity, see the full Dashboard on the Health Unit website .

Check to protect - Simple steps we can take now to minimize the chances of serious illness and community spread of respiratory illness:

Make sure you and your family members’ COVID vaccinations are up to date, meaning you have completed your primary series and, for those 5 years of age and older, you have received a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months of your last dose or infection. COVID-19 vaccinations can be booked locally through the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit website or by calling 1-833-943-3900. Many pharmacies and some primary care offices, including the Northumberland Family Health Team are also offering COVID vaccination. Learn more about COVID vaccines and where to get vaccinated.
Get a flu shot. Flu shots are given to those aged 6 months and older. Learn more about where to get a flu shot in Northumberland County on the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit's website .
Wear a mask when indoors in crowded public spaces and physical distancing cannot be maintained – masking is not currently mandatory in most areas of Northumberland County beyond high-risk health settings, like hospitals and long-term care settings, where special guidelines remain in force, but it is a small gesture that is known to have a big impact on stopping the spread of germs. Surgical masks should be properly worn, covering the nose and mouth.
Screen for respiratory symptoms daily and stay home if you are ill. What feels like a minor cold to you could be serious if transmitted to someone else.
Wash your hands, often, particularly when out in public. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands.

What to do if you catch a respiratory illness, or if you are a care provider for someone who is sick

Mild symptoms?

Most of us with respiratory symptoms—whether from flu, COVID, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), or other respiratory infections—will recover on our own and will not require prescription medications. Self-isolate and rest, drink plenty of fluids and take over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen as able and as needed and directed on the manufacturer’s instructions for fever or muscle aches.

Child with a fever?

Review this handy resource from the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Canadian Pharmacists Association and four Canadian children’s hospitals for helpful information on fevers and the use of over-the-counter medication: Information for families and caregivers on children’s fever and pain medication .

When to see a doctor or Nurse Practitioner? There are special considerations for respiratory illness in children. For an excellent resource for answering many common questions – including when to call the doctor or NP’s office - check out this information sheet: Family Doctor Tips on Caring for Children with Respiratory Symptoms . A virtual appointment may be offered in some instances. This is one way primary care providers can determine if you need to be seen in person.

When to call 911 or go to the emergency department?

Emergency departments (EDs) are very busy places but, in some circumstances, the ED is the only option available for accessing urgent care quickly. Some examples of when you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department: if you are worried that you or someone you are caring for is seriously ill; if your infant, younger than three months old, has a fever; if your child is struggling to breathe or is breathing faster than normal; if you are concerned about the risk of dehydration.

The best gift we can all give to one another and all health care providers this holiday season is to ensure we take action, where it is in our control, to minimize the risk of contracting a respiratory illness. Prevention, and response, is a shared responsibility. For the sake of the most vulnerable among us—the very young, older individuals, and those whose health is already challenged by chronic health conditions, precarious housing situations or both—we must each continue to do everything in our power to protect our whole community by preserving health care resources for those who need them most.

Thank you, Northumberland, for everything you have done to date. We are, still, stronger together.

Adrienne Bell-Smith, Co-Chair, OHT-N and Executive Director, Northumberland Family Health Team Trish Baird, Co-Chair, OHT-N and Executive Director, Community Care Northumberland Lisa van der Vinne, Interim Chair, OHT-N Experience Partner Council Alderville First Nation Dr. Erin Pepper, Family Physician Kerri-Anne Kidd, Executive Director, The Bridge Hospice Eric Hanna, Interim President & CEO, Campbellford Memorial Hospital Taryn Rennicks, Executive Director, Community Health Centres of Northumberland Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health & CEO, HKPR District Health Unit Sandra Armstrong, Director, Home and Community Care Support Services Wendy Parker, Executive Director, Lakeview Family Health Team Jennifer Moore, Chief Administrative Officer, Northumberland County Kate Campbell, Director of Communications, Northumberland County Susan Walsh, President & CEO, Northumberland Hills Hospital Jennifer Gillard, Senior Director, Patient Experience, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Northumberland Hills Hospital Susan Brown, Chief, Northumberland Paramedics Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director, Rebound Child & Youth Services Stacey Hawkins, Director, Research & Evaluation, Seniors Care Network Kylie Morton, Administrator/Director of Care, Streamway Villa Long-term Care Delayne Donald, Executive Director, Trent Hills Family Health Team

Additional Resources

Join the OHT-N Strategy Hive sessions next month, the next step in a collaborative planning process

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:37:00 GMT

Help set health and well-being priorities for Northumberland

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) has been leading a collaborative effort that is bringing together patients, caregivers, community members, health care and community service providers to shape, together, the future of care and services in Northumberland.

“Building on the themes that have emerged through Community Conversations (March 2022), a Community Experience Survey (March 7 – April 4, 2022) and provider focus groups (March 2022), the next step in the OHT-N’s consultation process will involve a series of 2.5-hour mini-planning sessions called ’Strategy Hives,’” says Trish Baird, Executive Director of Community Care Northumberland and co-Chair for the OHT-N.

“The Hives will be held virtually over Zoom but participants will have the option to join with video or through a phone call. We hope you will join us for one or all of these upcoming sessions!” says Adrienne Bell-Smith, Executive Director of the Northumberland Family Health Team and co-Chair for the OHT-N.

“We thank everyone who has participated in this unique county-wide, cross-sector planning process to date,” said William Prawecki, chair of the OHT-N’s Experience Partner Council. “We are extending this next invitation to all who wish to join in the conversation, including providers, patients and caregivers, and all with an interest in improving health and well-being in Northumberland.”

Find the five Strategy Hive topics and dates below. Attend one, two or as many as you like! Pre-registration is required. Find the links to register as well as further details at ohtnorthumberland.ca. Login instructions and reminders will be shared with all registrants closer to the event dates.

Strategy Hive One: Equity, Inclusion and the Basics of a Healthy Life - May 11, 2022: 9:30am-12:00pm
What could we do creatively in Northumberland to address chronic issues like housing, poverty and inequity that impact health and well-being in our community? What can we do to ensure that everyone feels welcome no matter where they seek out help?

Strategy Hive Two: Primary Care Solutions - May 12, 2022: 6:00pm-8:30pm
What could we do differently to creatively meet needs typically addressed by a family physicians/nurse practitioners?

Strategy Hive Three: Aging Well at Home - May 17, 2022: 3:00-5:30pm
What innovative solutions could we design together to proactively support seniors and those living with chronic conditions to age well in their homes?

Strategy Hive Four: Elevating Mental Health and Addictions Care – May 18, 2022: 6:00pm-8:30pm
What new models of care and support could we adopt to better address the mental health and addiction needs of our community?

Strategy Hive Five: Making Our Health System Simpler and Easier to Navigate - May 19, 2022: 3:00pm-5:30pm
How can we build upon our strong foundation of community collaboration to improve how people find the services they need, to create a simpler, more connected system of care in Northumberland?

Help set health and well-being priorities for Northumberland

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 14:34:00 GMT

Help set health and well-being priorities for Northumberland

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – March 8, 2022 - The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is launching a local first: a county-wide, cross-sector, collaborative community conversation and local data gathering exercise around health and well-being.

The input and information gathered will guide not only OHT-N activities in the coming years, it will also be summarized and made available to health and community care agencies to help support collaborative system planning for health and well-being priorities across the community.

“Since the formation of the OHT-N in December 2019, this partnership of patients, caregivers, health and community care providers in Northumberland have been working together to improve experience with local care and services, and to improve health outcomes across our community,” says Adrienne Bell-Smith, Executive Director of the Northumberland Family Health Team and co-Chair for the OHT-N.

“To set priorities and actions for our next phase of work, the OHT-N has begun creating a Strategic Plan – and we want to hear from you!” states Trish Baird, Executive Director of Community Care Northumberland and co-Chair for the OHT-N.

From March through May 2022, the OHT-N will be coordinating a broad community consultation to gather feedback to questions such as:

What do you value most about health and well-being supports in Northumberland?
What could we be doing better as a health system to meet your health and well-being needs?
What improvements to health care, community services and patient experience would you like to see?

The information gathered, along with related statistics and data regarding demographic trends and more, will:

Form the basis for the OHT-N’s first Strategic Plan (to be released in June/July 2022)
Inform the individual organizational strategic plans of OHT-N member organizations
Be summarized into public reports of all data gathered for use by others

“The goal is a single process supporting multiple outcomes, for the benefit of the whole community,” says Scott Macpherson, inaugural chair of the OHT-N’s Experience Partner Council , the first direct patient and caregiver engagement body to represent the county-wide health and community care system.

“We’re excited to be taking this innovative team approach to strategic planning rather than each partner collecting this information individually. The process we’re rolling out is designed to gather input from a broad cross-section of voices and perspectives. The opportunity before the OHT-N and other community partners will be to address the themes that emerge with tangible actions in the years ahead to truly improve health and well-being outcomes and service experience for all residents of Northumberland.”

How to participate

There are many opportunities for community members to get involved and have a say.

Complete our Community Survey (March 8 – April 4, 2022): We invite you to complete our online survey, sharing your experiences with health and community services and what you and the people in your life most need for your health and well-being. Complete the survey by April 4, 2022 for a chance to win one of two $100 VISA gift cards!
Join a Provider Focus Group (March 21-23, 2022): Are you a health care or community service provider in Northumberland? Join one of our upcoming targeted group discussions to share insights and ideas that will inform the priority-setting process.
Participate in a Community Conversation (March 2022): A team of 37 patients, caregivers and health and community service providers will be reaching out to people across Northumberland for one-to-one conversations about local services and where we should focus to improve experiences and health outcomes.
Participate in our Strategy Hives (May 2022): Using information gathered throughout the consultation process, we will be hosting a series of mini-planning sessions – called Strategy Hives. Patients, caregivers, community members, and providers of health care and community services will all work together to create a vision and define priorities for improved care and services in Northumberland. (More information on the Strategy Hives will be available in early April.)

Please consider being a part of this important process by sharing your perspective and experience through one (or more!) of the above opportunities. Access the survey and learn more about registering to participate in the other opportunities identified.

For questions about the OHT-N Strategic Planning Process, email the team or reach out by phone care of Marley Budreau, Director, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland, at 1-855-473-8875 ext. 163.

Planned temporary website outage

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 14:28:00 GMT

Planned temporary website outage

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – March 8, 2022 - Please note that our website (OHTNorthumberland.ca) will be offline for planned maintenance for a period of approximately four hours beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2022. During this time, all web pages will be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland seeks volunteers for innovative new patient support program

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 23:17:00 GMT

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland seeks volunteers for innovative new patient support program

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Tuesday, September 28, 2021 - As part of preparations to launch an innovative new patient support program, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is inviting community members interested in a fulfilling volunteer opportunity to attend upcoming training sessions.

The Volunteer Peer Support Program will, once launched, match trained volunteers with people in the community who require informal support, broadening their social network and assisting them to navigate and access the services they need. One of three priority projects undertaken by the OHT-N partnership of local health and community care providers, patients and caregivers, the Volunteer Peer Support Program is expected to begin accepting patient participants before the end of this year.

“A central focus for the OHT-N is improving patient and caregiver experience with health and community care services. We are therefore thrilled to be nearing the point of implementation with this new initiative,” states Trish Baird, Co-Chair of the OHT-N Collaboration Council and Executive Director of Community Care Northumberland – the organization overseeing this program in partnership with the OHT-N. “The Volunteer Peer Support Program will initially serve older adults experiencing persistent complex problems and conditions, who may have difficulty navigating and accessing the supports available to them in the community. Volunteers will work together with participants and, as appropriate, their caregivers, to help them get the most out of local services.”

Volunteers will be trained in a specific method of support called High-Fidelity WrapAround. This model involves working with a participant to build an individualized team of support. This team – typically caregivers, friends and family – will help the participant address their unique needs and goals in areas such as housing, safety, finances, spirituality, social connection, recreation and more.

“The Volunteer Peer Support Program will empower participants to have voice and choice in planning the care and support they require to live a full life,” says Scott Macpherson, Co-Chair of the OHT-N Experience Partner Council. “The intention is to keep people in their homes and sustain their involvement in the community by increasing their capacity for self-care. This program will be an important step forward in achieving improved health outcomes in our community.”

For the launch of the Volunteer Peer Support Program, the OHT-N is seeking 20-25 volunteers who are able to dedicate an average of 8 to 10 hours per month to the program. Community members who are interested in this opportunity are invited to attend the upcoming four-day training program:

When:

October 28 and 29
November 4 and 5

Where:

Ed's House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre
Education Room
1301 Ontario Street, Cobourg

Training will be conducted in-person and with careful attention to all COVID-19 public health precautions, including masking and physical distancing. Interested volunteers must also demonstrate proof of vaccination upon arrival at the first day of training, prior to entry.

Learn more about this volunteer opportunity, including how to register for the upcoming training by the deadline of Monday, October 18.

Community Care Northumberland anticipates accepting patient participants into the Volunteer Peer Support Program before the end of this year, however registrations are not accepted at this time. To learn more about whether this program is right for you, please visit our website or contact:

Kelly Peterson

Coordinator - Volunteer Peer Support Program
Community Care Northumberland
905-373-2998
k.peterson@commcare.ca

OHT-N welcomes first County-wide patient and caregiver council and next leadership

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 23:14:00 GMT

OHT-N welcomes first County-wide patient and caregiver council and next leadership

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Monday, July 26, 2021 - Local health and community care providers were reminded of just how important partnerships are through the COVID-19 pandemic.

From testing to collaborative (virtual) primary care support, mass and mobile vaccination efforts and much more, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) never intended to have COVID-19 as a priority focus when it launched in December 2019. Looking back on the past year and a half, the partners agree: OHT-N relationships enabled a faster and more comprehensive response to COVID-19 across Northumberland, and a more positive outcome for all.

Now, as Ontario begins to see light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, the OHT-N—a County-wide collaboration of patients, caregivers, health and community care providers working together to improve patient, caregiver and provider experience—is excited to be able to accelerate the three priority projects intended as its focus, prior to COVID-19:

Volunteer Peer Support - This initiative will match trained volunteers with people in our community who require informal support, broadening their social network and assisting them to navigate and access the health care services they need. Learn more about the Volunteer Peer Support program.
Community Paramedicine - Leveraging the skills and training of Northumberland Paramedics, this initiative is providing proactive services for patients who use 9-1-1 services due to system gaps/challenges/ access to community care. This includes remote monitoring for appropriate patients. Learn more about the Community Paramedicine Program.
Rural Outreach Clinics - Multiple OHT-N partners will bring services to rural community locations to reduce barriers to care experienced by patients in small, rural areas, such as access, transportation and outreach challenges. The OHT-N’s first Rural Outreach Clinic opened in Colborne in April, 2021. Learn more about the services available at the Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic.

Helping to drive this work forward in partnership with local patients and caregivers with lived experience is the OHT-N’s newly formed Experience Partner Council.

Recruited from the network of patients and caregivers already serving in advisory roles with various OHT-N partners, the inaugural Experience Partner Council is comprised of eight volunteers from across Northumberland County: Kaye Jackson (Co-Chair); Scott Macpherson (Co-Chair); Gwen Barnes; Susan Fedorka; Howard Goodfellow; Edna McKim; William Prawecki; and Lisa van der Vinne.
Unique in that it is the first opportunity for direct patient and caregiver engagement across the local health and community care system, the Experience Partner Council is working together with service provider partners to help transform the delivery of local health and community care through the Ontario Health Team model.

With active representation across all the OHT-N’s governance, planning and project team structures, Experience Partner Council volunteers are committed to ensuring patients and caregivers have a clear and equal voice in advancing local priorities for health and community care services and bringing to life Ontario’s Patient Declaration of Values here in Northumberland. Learn more about the Experience Partner Council, including information on its members

“It has been exciting to see active patient and caregiver engagement grow as the OHT-N matures,” said Scott Macpherson and Kaye Jackson, Experience Partner Council co-chairs. “We had the opportunity to be at the OHT-N planning table from its inception. Most of the organizations around the table had experience at varying degrees with patient and family advisory councils and committees, but the engagement was really happening in silos. The OHT has offered an opportunity for us to now take this engagement across our local health and community care system, all the way to true patient and caregiver partnership. Our OHT-N Patient/Caregiver Partnership and Community Engagement Framework is our blueprint – it maps out what we want patient partnership and broader community engagement to become, and the benefits we believe we will achieve if we do it right. It also articulates the values that will guide us, and it recognizes that meaningful engagement is done through solid and diverse relationships, built over time, across a spectrum—from informing, to involving and, ultimately, empowering (through the Experience Partner Council).”

The first full-time OHT-N resource has also been recruited to coordinate OHT-N operations and advance the work of the priority projects. Marley Budreau, OHT-N Director, was recruited by the OHT-N partners from the Region of Peel, where she has most recently worked as Manager, Strategic Initiatives, leading the development and implementation of Peel’s Community Safety and Well-being Plan as well as leading vaccination efforts through primary care as part of Peel’s mass vaccination team.

Before beginning her new position with the OHT-N this month, Marley was part of the secretariat responsible for supporting the development of the Brampton Etobicoke Ontario Health Team (OHT). Marley has also held senior roles at the Central East Local Health Integration Network, having worked to implement programs such as Behavioural Supports Ontario and Health Links.

Marley’s passion lies in the development of integrated and coordinated models of care that aim to put the patient and caregiver voice at the centre of planning and implementation efforts while ensuring meaningful collaboration. Raised and currently residing in Northumberland County, Marley is excited to reconnect with OHT-N partners as the team works to better connect local patients and providers to improve patient outcomes.

“Northumberland has very unique experiences with patient and caregiver engagement, a commitment to joint health service planning and evaluation, and a local culture of creativity and innovation,” said Budreau. “I am thrilled to be joining the OHT-N at this point in its evolution, and I look forward to supporting its current and future priority projects to improve care here in my own home community.”

Adrienne Bell-Smith and Trish Baird, Executive Directors of the Northumberland Family Health Team and Community Care Northumberland, respectively, have recently accepted co-leadership roles for the OHT-N, taking over this role from NHH President and CEO Linda Davis, a driving force in the establishment of the OHT-N model in the County, who will retire at the end of this month.
“We are excited to co-Chair the OHT-N, following the exceptional leadership of Linda Davis, who was a driving force in helping move this partnership forward,” said Adrienne Bell-Smith and Trish Baird, OHT-N co-chairs.

“The members representing the partnership of the OHT-N are a collaborative and innovative group, deeply committed to creating meaningful improvements in health services within Northumberland. We are thankful for the confidence and support that the Ministry of Health and our local MPP David Piccini continue to show for the OHT-N. The last 16 months have shown the resiliency of this team. We work well together and support each other in helping to make health care services more accessible to our community. We look forward to bringing our projects to full operation in partnership with our Experience Partners and the community at large.”

Looking for more information about the OHT-N?

Please visit the OHT-N website , email the team or reach out by phone care of the contacts below.

Media contacts:

Jennifer Gillard

Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland Hills Hospital
905-377-7757
Email Jennifer

Kate Campbell

Director, Communications
Northumberland County
905-372-3329, ext. 2335

Email Kate

OHT-N prepares to ramp up in-person services at Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 23:08:00 GMT

OHT-N prepares to ramp up in-person services at Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Tuesday, June 22, 2021 - Increased access to in-person services at the Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne is anticipated for early July. This is in alignment with Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario - the Province's plan to safely and gradually lift COVID-19 public health measures.
The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N), in partnership with Cramahe Township, opened the Rural Outreach Clinic on April 6, 2021 at 34 Victoria Street, Colborne. A year-one priority project for the OHT-N, this clinic brings health and community care services closer to rural residents. Available by appointment only, this includes:

Primary care (Nurse Practitioner) for patients not currently rostered with a local primary care provider or those who may need a specific temporary support closer to home;
Mental health counselling (adult and youth);
Diabetes education; and
Foot care/chiropody;

“As the Province now navigates Step One of the Roadmap to Reopen, we are readying the clinic to accept more in-person appointments in the near future,” says Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director, Rebound Child and Youth Services, and a member of the OHT-N working group responsible for coordinating the Rural Outreach Clinic initiative.
“As COVID-19 vaccination rates climb and health system indicators improve, we look forward to welcoming Cramahe and area residents to our facility in greater numbers, as safety precautions permit, in conjunction with the Province’s eventual move to reopening additional services and amenities under Step Two. With the Province remaining in each step for at least 21 days, we are planning for this ramp-up to begin in early July, while remaining flexible to push out this timeline in the event an extended period under Step One measures is required.”
Beyond current services, seniors assessments are planned for the near future, as are small group programs and other opportunities to improve access and deliver value to the community.
“Once the Province moves to Step Two of the reopening plan, clinic services – currently primarily virtual – will gradually and increasingly shift to in-person appointments over a period of four weeks. We also intend to continue offering residents the option of virtual appointments, where this is practical from a care perspective,” explains Beauchamp.
“OHT-N partners look forward to learning more about client needs and adjusting this model of care as required, as we consider the possibility of replicating the Rural Outreach Clinic in other areas throughout Northumberland over time. This initiative is an important part of overall OHT-N efforts to transform the delivery of health and community care services in Northumberland in ways that improve patient, caregiver and provider experience, as well as health outcomes.”
Appointments continue to be required for all Rural Outreach Clinic services. At present, no walk-in support is available. Area residents are invited to call the clinic directly at 289-265-0505 to book an appointment, on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about the OHT-N Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne.

OHT-N COVID-19 testing services consolidating from 3 sites to 2 as demand for testing declines

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 23:05:00 GMT

OHT-N COVID-19 testing services consolidating from 3 sites to 2 as demand for testing declines

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Monday, June 7, 2021 - Local health and community care providers continue to work together through the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partnership to deliver COVID-19 assessment and testing in Northumberland County.

Beginning Monday, June 7, OHT-N COVID-19 testing will wind down at the Port Hope Community Hub (formerly the Canton Municipal Hall) and be consolidated once again at two centres within Northumberland County:

the NHH COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Northumberland Hills Hospital; and
the Trent Hills COVID-19 Testing Centre in Campbellford.

Opened in October, 2020, the Canton site has been operating three- to four-days a week, depending on demand, at the the Port Hope Community Hub (formerly the Canton Municipal Hall) at 5325 County Road 10, just north of the village of Canton. Opened primarily for those without active symptoms, the Canton site has seen reduced demand of late, as retirement and long-term care homes have begun introducing testing of essential caregivers, and local rates of COVID-19 have declined.

“The specific aim of the Canton COVID-19 Testing Centre was to provide another local option for those without active symptoms, such as those who required a test because they wished to visit a loved one in an area long-term care home, or those who may have been exposed in a work or school setting,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N and President and CEO at Northumberland Hills Hospital.

“The Canton location provided additional testing options for local residents when it was needed most, and added overall capacity at both NHH and Trent Hills sites to cater to those with COVID-19 or other respiratory-like symptoms. In total, over 4,300 tests have been conducted at the Canton site. On behalf of the OHT-N members, I thank Mayor Bob Sanderson and the Municipality of Port Hope for their generous support in offering and opening the Canton site for this purpose. I also want to recognize the support of the Community Health Centres of Northumberland and Northumberland Paramedics, for generously supporting the centre’s staffing needs, alongside the Laboratory team at Northumberland Hills Hospital, who oversaw the processing of the swabs. With many local hands supporting it, the Canton site did exactly what it was intended to do. While we hope it will not be needed again in the future, we have been assured by Port Hope that the facility could be made available again as needs require.”

In addition to the two testing and assessment centres in Northumberland, COVID-19 assessment and testing will continue to be available on an emergency basis via the Emergency Departments at both Northumberland Hills Hospital and Campbellford Memorial Hospital, and in a ‘pop-up’ capacity (as circumstances require) through the Community Paramedicine team of Northumberland Paramedics. Select pharmacies in the region are also now offering asymptomatic COVID-19 testing. For information on pharmacy-based testing services please contact your local pharmacy directly.

Below are the services available at the NHH and Trent Hills Centres, and the numbers to call to access each.

OHT-N COVID-19 testing and assessment services

NHH COVID-19 Assessment Centre

Location: 1000 DePalma Drive, in the dedicated trailer space outside the main hospital, with entry directly adjacent to the NHH Emergency Department entrance - dedicated and accessible entry/exit.
Hours: Open daily, 8AM to 4PM
Services:
COVID-19 testing for eligible patients
Primary care provider assessment (Nurse Practitioner, physician) of patients eligible for COVID-19 testing as needed for other related care needs, eg. strep throat, common cold, prescription, etc.
Pre-scheduled appointments only – call 905-377-7783

Trent Hills COVID-19 Testing Centre

Location: At 146 Oliver Road in Campbellford, lower side level of Campbellford Memorial Hospital (the old Ambulance Bay).
Hours: Open Monday to Thursday, 9AM to 5PM
Services:
COVID-19 testing available for eligible patients
Pre-scheduled appointments only – call 705-395-1801

Who should be tested at the Centres above?

Local residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a local COVID-19 Assessment Centre if they:have COVID-19 symptoms (see what those symptoms are, or take a self assessment, by visiting the Province's dedicated web page );
have been notified by public health or the COVID Alert app that they have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus;
have been notified by public health that they are a resident or worker in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak; have had a public health or primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) tell them to be tested;
live or work in a setting considered at-risk for COVID-19, such as a long-term care home, community shelter or other congregate living setting;
will be visiting a long-term care home and are unable to access testing services within the facility.

Looking for information on COVID-19?

For the most up-to-date information on how Ontario is responding to COVID-19, including vaccine information visit Ontario’s dedicated COVID-19 website . For local updates, visit the HKPR District Health Unit website . For information on where to obtain a COVID-19 test, see the OHT-N COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centres page.

Province supports mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic coming to Northumberland

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 22:50:00 GMT

Province supports mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic coming to Northumberland

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY – Thursday, June 3, 2021 - An additional mobile vaccination option will be coming soon to Northumberland County.

To help provide local residents with additional access to COVID-19 vaccine, a new mobile vaccination clinic is being introduced to bring vaccine directly to residents. This approach is part of the Province’s vaccine rollout and has proven beneficial in hotspot communities. While Northumberland County is not considered a hotspot, it is among the first rural settings in the province to see this type of mobile service. With Ontario’s vaccine supply now increasing, the Province is allocating additional supply to Northumberland for this initiative.
Beginning with large local manufacturers affiliated with the Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA), the mobile service will also be available to travel—as vaccine and need permits—to other manufacturers and larger area retail operations, potentially across the HKPR region. Eligible family members of employees invited to access the mobile clinic will be encouraged to attend, broadening the mobile service’s reach. Rural communities where larger portions of the population may be missing vaccine opportunities due to transportation or other accessibility challenges will also have an opportunity to host the mobile clinic.

Overseen by the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) with clinical support from Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH), a network of volunteers rallied by area Rotarians and primary care providers who have stepped up, once again, to serve as vaccinators, the new mobile service will include a mix of drive through and on-site options customized to suit the needs of the respective employers and communities it is called to.

Area manufacturers were made aware of the potential service in a direct email sent out earlier this week from the Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA). NMA members were invited to express interest in hosting the mobile service and, to date, more than 18 manufacturers have expressed interest. The first mobile clinic site is expected to be opened as early as next week.

Registration of employees at the area businesses whose leaders have expressed interest in the service will be coordinated by OHT-N representatives seconded to the mobile service with an aim to keep the process as simple as possible.

“We are further expanding our vaccine distribution plan locally with the launch of a mobile vaccine unit,” said Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP Dave Piccini. “This is great news for our region. This clinic will begin offering vaccinations at manufacturers that have employees who cannot work from home. The plan to launch a mobile vaccine unit locally initiated from a request by the Northumberland Manufacturers Association (NMA) to help vaccinate their manufacturing workforce. Our Government is supporting this and is proud to be working alongside the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland and our local Health Unit to make this a reality!”

“With first dose vaccinations now surpassing 59 per cent of Northumberland residents 12 years of age and older, the final push is on to get the vaccine to every local resident who wants one and put COVID-19 in the rear-view mirror,” said Linda Davis, President and CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital and spokesperson for the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland. “Like the assessment and testing centres and mass vaccine clinics before this, the mobile service will be a collective effort and I thank our OHT-N partners as well as our MPP and area volunteers for coming together to customize solutions that best fit our community.”

“The Health Unit has been working together with our community partners to offer a number of ways that people can get vaccinated,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “We are seeing extremely high uptake at our mass immunization clinics and our mobile clinics and support any additional ways in which our many partners can help provide additional options to our residents who want to access the vaccine.”

Direct outreach to targeted employers and communities is under way, with support from NMA and area Chambers of Commerce. Further information on rural community visits will follow via the OHT-N website and partner communication channels as more details are available.

Looking for information on COVID-19?

For the most up-to-date information on how Ontario is responding to COVID-19, including vaccine information, visit Ontario’s dedicated COVID-19 website . For local updates, visit the HKPR District Health Unit website . For information on where to obtain a COVID-19 test, view the OHT-N's COVID-19 Testing & Assessment web page.

Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic Launched

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 08:55:00 GMT

Establishing a Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne, together with the Township of Cramahe, to increase access to health services for rural residents.

The Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic (ROC) is the first clinic of its kind organized by the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N).

Launched April 6, 2021, this clinic is part of OHT-N efforts to bring services to rural community locations in Northumberland. The aim is to reduce barriers to care such as access, transportation and outreach challenges. Colborne ROC services are provided through a collaboration of OHT-N partners and Cramahe Township . Services are available by appointment only on a first come, first served basis. Walk-in support is not available at the clinic at this time.

Services currently include:

Primary care with a Nurse Practitioner (for patients who do not currently have a local primary care provider, or those who may need specific temporary support closer to home)
Adult and youth mental health supports
Foot care with a Chiropodist
Diabetes education
Family violence prevention resources and support

Future services planned for this location include:

Smoking cessation
Seniors wellness supports

Contact the Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic

To book an appointment or to speak with a client care representative, please connect with us by phone. For privacy and security reasons, please do not share Personal Health Information (PHI) by email.Contact us: 289-265-0505, Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (closed 12:00-1:00 p.m.). Appointments are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location: The Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic is located at 34 Victoria Street, Colborne, ON.

Additional COVID-19 vaccination clinics being added to Provincial Booking System

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 22:33:00 GMT

Additional COVID-19 vaccination clinics being added to Provincial Booking System

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit has advised that residents born in 1941 or earlier will soon have more area clinic locations and dates to choose from when looking to book a vaccination appointment.

Although the provincial booking system went live on Monday, not all of the vaccination clinics planned across Ontario, including Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes, have been loaded into the system. Additional clinic locations and appointment times will be available on the system in the coming weeks. Anyone who has previously tried to book a vaccination appointment and has not found a local clinic is encouraged to revisit the provincial booking system again in the coming weeks to see additional clinic locations and dates.

“We know some of our residents went into the provincial booking system to book their appointments this week and discovered there were no clinics in their area,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU). “We understand that it has been frustrating, but we need to ensure that there is a dose of vaccine available for every appointment and I would ask people to be patient and go back into the system to book at the end of next week.”

Everyone who wants the vaccine will receive it, Dr. Gemmill said, and he asks for everyone’s understanding as the vaccine program unfolds. As more vaccine becomes available, more clinic appointments can open, and more people can be vaccinated, he said. In the meantime, immunization of high-risk people in phase one, such as residents of retirement homes, is continuing.
All vaccination appointments for residents born in 1941 or earlier MUST be booked through the provincial booking system. Booking can be done online at www.ontario.ca/bookvaccine or by phone at 1-888-999-6488.

The following clinic locations are either already appearing on the provincial booking system or will appear in the coming weeks.

Northumberland County

Cobourg Community Centre - 750 D’Arcy Street, Cobourg – clinic dates and times will be added to the provincial booking system by March 26. Clinics will begin March 29.
Trent Hills Emergency Services Base , 50 Doxsee Avenue, Campbellford – clinic dates and times will be added to the provincial booking system in coming weeks.

City of Kawartha Lakes

Lindsay Exhibition (LEX) – 354 Angeline Street South, Lindsay – appointments can be booked through the provincial system and clinics will begin March 18. Please note, the address is Angeline Street South.
Fenelon Falls Community Centre – 27 Veterans Way, Fenelon Falls – clinic dates and times will be added to the provincial booking system in the coming weeks. Clinics will begin the week of April 5.

Haliburton County

Haliburton Family Medical Centre (Second Floor) – 7217 Gelert Road, Haliburton – clinics will be added to the provincial booking system by March 18. Clinic appointments begin March 22.
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena – 55 Parkside Street, Minden – clinic dates will be added to the provincial booking system in the coming weeks. Clinic appointments begin the week of April 5.

Once more vaccine becomes available locally, HKPRDHU will continue to vaccinate those residents born in 1941 or earlier and continue to vaccinate individuals identified in phase one of the provincial vaccine distribution plan, including: residents, staff and essential caregivers of retirement homes and senior’s congregate settings, Heath care workers identified as the highest priorities; and Indigenous adults living on reserves and urban areas. The vaccine will be available to all residents eventually over the next few months, and clinics will continue until everyone who wants the vaccine has received it. Learn more about COVID-19, vaccination distribution and vaccination clinics .

OHT-N set to open Rural Outreach Clinic in collaboration with Cramahe Township

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 22:31:00 GMT

OHT-N set to open Rural Outreach Clinic in collaboration with Cramahe Township

Northumberland County, Ontario – Thursday, March 11, 2021 – Health care providers affiliated with the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) are preparing to open the region’s first Rural Outreach Clinic on Tuesday, April 6 at 34 Victoria Street, Colborne, thanks to a unique collaboration with Cramahe Township.

“One of three priority projects undertaken by our partnership of local providers, patients and caregivers, the aim of the OHT-N’s Rural Outreach Clinic (ROC) effort is to bring services to rural community locations in Northumberland, and help reduce barriers to care experienced by patients in small, rural areas, such as access, transportation and outreach challenges,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N."

When the Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic opens next month, Cramahe Township residents will gain access to a suite of services which, today, often require a 20- to 30-minute trip, by car, to access. Available by appointment only, these services include:

Mental health counselling (adult and youth);
Primary care for patients not currently rostered with a local primary care provider or those who may need a specific temporary support closer to home;
Diabetes education;
Foot care/chiropody;
Smoking cessation; and
Seniors wellness supports.

When public health restrictions permit, small group programs will also be considered at the site. Walk-in support will not be available at the clinic at this time.

“This is a very exciting project to be a part of,” said Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director, Rebound Child and Youth Services, and a member of the OHT-N working group responsible for coordinating the launch. “We are very grateful to Cramahe Township for answering the OHT-N’s call for available space, and their readiness to assist with some of the critical logistics.”

Services planned for the April launch reflect input on the priority needs identified by community residents through a recent OHT-N/Cramahe Township survey. Other key factors that helped drive planning around which services would be available at launch were the availability of local health care resources to support the clinic and the appropriateness of those services for the physical location of the ROC site.

“This is the realization of a dream for Cramahe Township – extended health services right here to serve our residents,” said Cramahe Township Mayor Mandy Martin. “Our council, our dedicated municipal staff and our citizens appreciate the cooperation and collaborative opportunity this project represents. When we work together as partners, much can be—and is—achieved. Thank you to all involved. It’s an exciting day!”

“To begin, we will be scheduling appointments for specific services on set days—for example, we are planning to rotate the youth mental health clinic day with adult mental health services so each can be offered one day per week,” explained Beauchamp. “The Rural Outreach Clinic is essentially a rural extension of services each of the OHT-N partners provide already at different locations. We plan to remain as flexible as possible as we learn more about community needs and provider availability. We have the opportunity to expand in the future but we are looking forward to starting with these priority clinics, on a rotating basis, and growing and adjusting together, as a team, with the community, as we move forward, here in Colborne and in other areas throughout Northumberland.”

“In December 2019, the Government of Ontario announced Northumberland as one of the first 24 Ontario Health Teams in the province,” said Member of Provincial Parliament for Northumberland-Peterborough South David Piccini. “In less than a year, the Ontario Health Team-Northumberland (OHT-N) is delivering on a priority year-one initiative to establish a Rural Outreach Clinic. This clinic proves what good things can happen when we mobilize community resources to create accessible health and community care for our rural communities. The opening of this clinic is a testament to the strong existing collaborative partnerships that exist in Northumberland and is part of our Government’s commitment to ending hallway healthcare. The Rural Outreach Clinic will help provide a more equitable and seamless continuum of care to the residents of Northumberland, improving population health as well as individual patient, caregiver and provider experience. I would like to thank all the health care providers and organizations that helped plan the clinic with the OHT-N. You have helped transform the health care landscape in Northumberland-Peterborough South.”

How to access care at the Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic

Beginning Tuesday, April 6 , residents of the Colborne area are invited to call the clinic directly at 289-265-0505 if they, or someone they care for, requires the services listed above. Services are available by appointment (no walk-in option is available) on a first-come, first-served basis. The clinic is located at 34 Victoria Street in Colborne. Construction is now being completed on accessibility enhancements, including a ramped entry. Parking is available.

Vaccination Appointments Now Being Booked for Residents 80 Years of Age and Older

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:53:00 GMT

Vaccination Appointments Now Being Booked for Residents 80 Years of Age and Older

*UPDATED - Sunday, March 14, 2021 - The provincial system for booking a COVID-19 vaccination appointment launches at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 15 for people who will be turning 80 or older in 2021. Individuals in this age group are invited to visit Ontario's Vaccine Booking page to book an appointment. Those who need assistance booking can also call 1-888-999-6488 at that time. If you are among the local Northumberland residents in this age group who have already received confirmation of an appointment for your vaccine, no action is required.

Northumberland County, Ontario – Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit announced today that vaccinations will begin next week for those Northumberland County residents who were born in 1941 or earlier and who currently have a primary health care provider.

Thanks to a collaboration between a variety of community partners, an ongoing vaccination clinic is being set up at the Cobourg Community Centre starting next week. This clinic will act as a mass immunization site to first vaccinate area residents born in 1941 or earlier who are patients of a Northumberland County doctor or nurse practitioner.

A similar clinic will also be set up at the Trent Hills Fire Station to provide vaccinations to Trent Hills residents born in 1941 or earlier and who have a primary health care provider.

Starting on March 10, area residents 80 years of age and older who have a primary health care provider will be receiving a call to book an appointment. Appointments will begin March 16 and will continue for the next two to three weeks depending on vaccine availability. Any residents who miss the call to book the appointment will be called a second time. If there is still no answer after the second call, a message will be left providing instructions on how the resident can book the appointment.

Residents born in 1941 or earlier who do not currently have a local primary health care provider or don’t have a primary health care provider in Northumberland County can still book an appointment for a vaccination. These residents can book their appointments through the province’s registration system that will go live starting on March 15. These appointments can be booked online, but there will also be a phone-in option for people who cannot book their appointments online.

“Offering appointments first to older residents with a primary health care provider is designed to help to reduce the number of people expected to call the provincial booking system once it goes live next week,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU). “Appointments are being staggered to help to reduce the pressure on the booking system and the vaccination clinics and is intended to use the vaccine in the most optimal way.”

“We know that our residents have been anxiously waiting for their chance to be vaccinated, and we are pleased to be able to work with so many different agencies within our community to make that happen,” said Dr. Gemmill. “All of our local health care providers and community partners want to get the vaccine into as many arms as possible right away, and staggering the approach is the best way we can do it with the vaccine deliveries that we are receiving.”

Community Care Northumberland will be providing transportation services to any Northumberland County senior who has an appointment booked. Individuals who have a scheduled COVID-19 vaccine appointment and require transportation can phone Community Care Northumberland’s transportation team at 1-866-768-7778 to register and request a ride to their appointment.

Residents of retirement homes and other senior’s congregate housing settings will still receive their vaccinations from the HKPRDHU, and those clinics will take place in those retirement homes over the next few weeks.

The vaccination clinic for residents 80 years of age and older is being organized by a number of community partners including the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland, the Town of Cobourg, the Rotary Club of Cobourg and HKPRDHU.

Once these older residents who have a primary health care provider have received their first dose of vaccine, HKPRDHU will assume responsibility for the Cobourg Community Centre and the Trent Hills Fire Station and host fixed site vaccination clinics for the next six months. Under the HKPRDHU Mass Immunization Plan, there will be two fixed site vaccination clinics held in each of the counties under the public health agency – Northumberland County, City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County. HKPRDHU is also working with its health partners to provide mobile clinics and drive through clinics to help to ensure that residents throughout Northumberland County will have the chance to be vaccinated.

Once vaccinations of residents born in 1941 or earlier is complete, HKPRDHU will begin accepting appointments from those highlighted in the province’s priority groups – adults with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers, those unable to work from home, and older adults between the ages of 60 to 79 in five-year increments.

“We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Dr. Gemmill said. “The HKPRDHU region has not been receiving as much vaccine as other areas of the province due to our low population and lower incidence of COVID cases. I have been asking people to be patient and that patience is about to be rewarded, as the province is telling us we should soon have enough vaccine to vaccinate all of our residents before long.”

Until everyone is fully vaccinated, Dr. Gemmill urges people to continue to follow the public health recommendations: stay home if ill, only go out for essential reasons, wear a mask when in public, practice physical distancing, and wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be getting a call?

Northumberland County residents who were born in 1941 or earlier and who currently have a local primary health care provider will be receiving a phone call to book an appointment to get vaccinated.

Who will be calling me?

Local doctors and nurse practitioners have provided the names of their patients who should be receiving the vaccine. Staff and volunteers from the community partnership will be calling eligible residents.

My doctor has not called me yet?

If you received a call but did not answer, a message will be left for you. You will be called a second time. If the callers still cannot reach you, they will leave a message that you must book an appointment through the provincial booking system. Please be sure to answer any calls from unrecognized phone numbers.
If you were born in 1941 or earlier, have a local primary health care provider and did not receive a phone call by March 15, please use the provincial booking system to book an appointment.

Who will be calling me?

A group of staff/volunteers from the community partnership will be calling you. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner provided your name and contact information for you to be called.

I don’t have a family doctor but was born in 1941 or earlier. How do I book an appointment?

If you do not have a local primary health care provider, you will need to use the provincial booking system. Appointments can be booked online, but if you do not have a computer, you can call and book an appointment by phone. This booking system will go live on March 15.
If you are having difficulty using the provincial booking system or the provincial phone registry, please call the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577 for assistance.

What information do I need when I get called?

Residents without a primary health care provider who are booking their own appointments should have their health card ready to book.

I don’t drive. How do I get to the Cobourg Community Centre or Trent Hills Family Health Team?

If you are unable to arrange a ride to the vaccination site, please contact Community Care Northumberland to arrange a volunteer driver to take you to the appointment. Individuals who have a scheduled COVID-19 vaccine appointment and require transportation can phone Community Care Northumberland’s transportation team at 1-866-768-7778 to register and request a ride to their appointment.

My spouse/caregiver will be coming with me, but they are not 80 years of age or older. Can they be vaccinated as well?

At this time, only residents who were born in 1941 or earlier are eligible to be vaccinated. As more vaccine arrives locally, more residents will be vaccinated in order of the provincial priority list.

What vaccine will I receive?

The province has been delivering the Pfizer vaccine for use locally.

My parent lives in a retirement home. Can they get vaccinated?

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit will be vaccinating residents of local retirement homes in those homes over the next couple of weeks. They do not need to call to book an appointment.

I was born later than 1941 but I have a number of health issues. Am I able to get vaccinated right now?

At this time, vaccination clinics are being booked only for those Northumberland County residents who were born in 1941 or earlier. Once residents over the age of 80 years are vaccinated, and additional vaccine arrives locally, adults with chronic health care issues will be invited to book a vaccination appointment.

OHT-N's first Rural Outreach Clinic set to open in Colborne

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 21:49:00 GMT

OHT-N's first Rural Outreach Clinic set to open in Colborne

Northumberland County, Ontario – March 5, 2020 – The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland will open its first Rural Outreach Clinic later this month, located in Colborne, in the Township of Cramahe. Watch our website on Thursday, March 11th for more about the clinic’s offerings and the partners involved. Stay tuned as we add the finishing touches to get this space ready to serve the community.

Vaccine safety, effectiveness and local distribution the focus of third COVID-19 Virtual Forum

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 21:43:00 GMT

Vaccine safety, effectiveness and local distribution the focus of third COVID-19 Virtual Forum

Northumberland County, Ontario – Thursday, February 11, 2020 – With the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines underway for priority populations in Northumberland as part of Phase 1 of the provincial distribution plan, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partners will host an interactive online session to answer the public’s vaccine-related questions.

How do the COVID-19 vaccines work? Are the vaccines safe? How long will immunization last? How are vaccines being distributed? When is rollout to the general population expected and how will this be coordinated locally? The third OHT-N COVID-19 Virtual Forum will address these questions and more during a 60-minute online event on Thursday, February 25, beginning at 7 p.m.Join four panelists from the local health care community, who will open the forum with a brief overview of topics including how the vaccines work in the body to combat the virus, the status of local vaccine rollout along with rough timelines for expanded distribution, and the partnerships in place to ensure a coordinated approach to mass vaccination across Northumberland. Panelists will then take questions from participating members of the public.There are two options to join: directly via the Zoom platform or by phone. Participants joining via Zoom will be able to ask questions directly of the panelists as well as other OHT-N representatives, including both county hospitals, Northumberland Paramedics, community care agencies, long-term care providers and more. Those joining by phone are invited to submit their questions in advance.

“As vaccine supply continues to flow into Northumberland and distribution expands to the broader community, we hope that everyone who is eligible will roll-up their sleeves – in consultation with their health care provider – to help prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our community, and support the national movement to build widespread immunity,” says Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N and President and CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital.

“We know that vaccination is the only foreseeable way to bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic – it is a robust layer of PPE we can each don in building our collective defence against this virus. OHT-N partners are collaborating with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit and stand ready to support the priority work of local vaccine rollout in any way needed. As part of this vital collaboration, we look forward to sharing information and answering questions during this upcoming Virtual Forum to help members of the public make informed decisions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, once available.”

Who

Moderated by Linda Davis, President and CEO, Northumberland Hills Hospital, this forum will include the following presenters:

Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health, Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Karen Peters, Pharmacist, Northumberland Family Health Team
Dr. Emma Smith, Primary Care Physician

Why

Get answers to your COVID-19 vaccine-related questions from local experts and learn how community partners are working together to coordinate local vaccine distribution.

OHT-N partners working with Health Unit to begin local vaccine rollout

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 21:41:00 GMT

OHT-N partners working with Health Unit to begin local vaccine rollout

Northumberland County, Ontario – Tuesday, January 26, 2021 – The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) shared “A Dose of Good News” yesterday, in a news release confirming that the first local allocation of COVID-19 vaccine had been received. HKPRDHU has been working with its area health care partners to ensure that plans were in place, and ready to be implemented, once the vaccine was received, and this planning will prove very beneficial in the days ahead.

The province is guiding the distribution of the vaccines as they become available in Ontario through the federal procurement process and has developed a phased approach for the rollout.

Ontario is currently in the first phase, with residents and staff of long-term care and retirement homes identified as the first priority population to be immunized. The province announced on January 25 that it is now aiming to have all residents of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes vaccinated by February 5, 2021. Depending on vaccine availability, health care workers, including staff and physicians at local hospitals with patient-facing responsibilities, would be immunized next. Vaccination of these priority groups has already been underway in areas of the province that have seen the highest number of cases.

“Like everyone else, we have been very anxious to get the vaccine into the arms of our local residents,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health for the HKPRDHU. “Yesterday was the day we’ve been waiting for. We have been working with our local hospital partners and our long-term care and retirement homes to work out the logistics of this and plan to implement the program as quickly as possible. We received 700 doses of the Moderna vaccine yesterday and hope to receive more next week. This is very good news for our region.”

The vaccine was delivered to Ross Memorial Hospital, which has agreed to receive and to store the HKPRDHU vaccine. From there, Health Unit staff will co-ordinate distribution of the vaccine to long-term care and retirement homes across the HKPRDU region, including Northumberland, and support each of them as they vaccinate their residents and staff in advance of the province’s February 5th goal. At this time, it is expected that 100 to 150 or more vaccinations will take place each day in long-term care homes throughout Northumberland County and the other regions covered by the HKPRDHU. Area hospitals will immunize their own staff once enough vaccine becomes available, in accordance with the province’s prioritization schedule.

“The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland thanks the Health Unit for the hard work that has gone in to advocating for our region, and stands ready to support this priority work in any way needed,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the team. “We can assist with storage of the vaccine, vaccination blitzes to vulnerable populations in long-term care, retirement and congregate living facilities and, with municipal partners, the broader community rollout—whatever is needed, we will support. The only limiting factor right now is the number of available doses, and this is out of our control. We were extremely pleased to receive the Health Unit’s news that 700 doses of the Moderna vaccine were received yesterday. While we appreciate some parts of Ontario have been much harder hit than Northumberland, we cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is that we too continue to see vaccine flow into this community and all the communities served by the HKPRDHU to ensure we can avoid COVID-19 cases continuing to rise. Until then, as urged in previous appeals from the OHT-N, the best means of protection is the prevention measures we have all been taking: maintaining physical distancing, wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene, staying home when we are ill and getting tested if symptoms do appear.”

“Many of our residents are asking for the vaccine or wanting to be put on a waiting list,” Dr. Gemmill said. “Unfortunately, we are still some months away from being able to either offer mass immunization clinics in our communities or to support primary care providers as they immunize their patients.”

HKPRDHU currently anticipates that additional doses of the vaccine will be available in the spring or early summer and the province will move into the second phase of roll-out at that time: expanding to other target populations that it has identified, including essential workers, older adults, and at-risk populations. The third phase of the vaccine distribution plan is expected to start in the summer and will include vaccinating the rest of the population who want to receive the vaccine.

Looking for more information on COVID-19?

For the most up-to-date provincial information on COVID-19, including symptoms, visit Ontario’s dedicated COVID-19 website . For local updates, visit the HKPR District Health Unit website . For information on where to obtain a COVID-19 test, see the OHT-N website.

Looking for information about the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines?

Learn about COVID-19 vaccines and when they will be available in Ontario on the province of Ontario's COVID-19 webpage .
Get context on vaccines from our local HKPR District Health Unit .
Access this useful Q&A from Ontario doctors .

Province-wide shutdown an urgent and necessary step to save lives

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 21:27:00 GMT

Province-wide shutdown an urgent and necessary step to save lives

Northumberland County, Ontario – Wednesday, December 23, 2020 – As health and social care providers affiliated with the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland, and patient and caregiver partners, we welcome the Ontario government's announcement of a forthcoming province-wide shutdown . With the holiday season almost upon us, and the very real risks posed by the movement of people into and across our province, this shutdown—in our view—cannot come soon enough.
Cases of COVID-19 are rising dramatically in Ontario. For the past week, we’ve watched as the total number of new confirmed cases in Ontario has exceeded 2,000 every day. Countless more cases are unconfirmed—carriers who do not yet have symptoms and are unaware that they may be spreading the virus.
Targeted measures have had an impact on transmission, but the rising case count tells us they are not enough. A swift and broad response is required now to avoid or, at least, minimize even more individuals falling ill or worse in the coming weeks and months. Greater than half of the more than 200 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Northumberland County have been detected since the end of November alone. While cases here are fortunately not as numerous as they are in neighbouring regions like Toronto, Peel and Durham, local growth is moving swiftly in the wrong direction. Over 14,000 Canadians have died of COVID-19. More than 4,000 of these confirmed COVID-related deaths have been in Ontario and 20 in the region covered by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. By acting now, we will help to stop these figures from growing even larger. The sacrifices are significant, both personal and economic, but the alternative, without a doubt, would be much worse.
As we urged in an appeal to our community earlier this month , vaccines offer hope, but the benefits are many months away. Thank you to everyone in Northumberland for your continued efforts to meet this challenge. Please, remain vigilant with the preventive public health measures proven to reduce COVID’s spread. Support the province-wide shutdown with your own personal actions, and consider doing so now, before the official shutdown comes into effect on Saturday, December 26 at 12:01 AM.
The best gift we can all give this holiday season is distance.
Sincerely,
Trish Baird, Executive Director, Community Care Northumberland

Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director, Rebound Child and Youth Services

Adrienne Bell-Smith, Executive Director, Northumberland Family Health Team

Linda Davis, President and CEO, Northumberland Hills Hospital

Delayne Donald, Executive Director, Trent Hills Family Health Team

Varouj Eskedjian, President and CEO, Campbellford Memorial Hospital

Kaye Jackson, caregiver representative

Kerri-Anne Kidd, Executive Director, The Bridge Hospice

Scott Macpherson, patient representative

Jennifer Moore, Chief Administrative Officer, Northumberland County

Wendy Parker, Executive Director, Lakeview Family Health Team

Taryn Rennicks, Executive Director, Community Health Centres of Northumberland

Nora Sawyer, Interim Manager, Alderville First Nation Health and Social Services

Looking for more information on COVID-19?

Please visit the About the OHT-N page of our website, email the team , or reach out by phone at 905-377-7757 or 905-372-3329, ext. 2335.

OHT-N partners appealing for vigilance with personal preventive measures this holiday season

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 21:21:00 GMT

OHT-N partners appealing for vigilance with personal preventive measures this holiday season

Northumberland County, Ontario – Tuesday, December 15, 2020 – With local cases of COVID-19 on the rise and the holiday season fast approaching, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partners are issuing an urgent appeal to local residents to remain vigilant with the preventive measures known to reduce spread.

2020 has been a challenging year, and we are all ready to welcome 2021 and put this virus behind us.

Vaccines are coming but our battle with COVID is far from over. It will be many months before the positive impact of broad scale vaccination can take hold. Prevention remains the greatest protection available to us and none of us can be successful alone – prevention is a shared responsibility.

Northumberland County residents, businesses and organizations have worked extremely hard, and made unprecedented sacrifices, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But the virus is strong, and it is on the rise. Only a few short months ago the number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Northumberland was low. Suddenly, that situation has shifted. Many areas around Northumberland County have also experienced increases and confirmed cases of COVID-19 are also rising across Ontario and around the globe. Without a doubt, now is not the time to ease up on our commitment to personal protective measures. To that end, as we head into the holiday season, OHT-N partners are calling on everyone to continue to follow public health advice to limit the potential for spread of COVID-19 in our County. Specifically:

Maintain physical distancing: Don’t give the virus a chance to spread. Keep a minimum distance of two metres (six feet) from other people outside of your immediate household.
Wear a mask: Ontario requires masks or face coverings to be worn in all public indoor settings, including business, facilities and workplaces, with very few exceptions (e.g. children under the age of 2).
Practice good hand hygiene: Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands.
Stay home if you are ill.

The best gift we can all give this holiday season is distance. Please—heed public health officials’ directions to avoid non-essential travel. Avoid holiday parties, large family dinners and similar indoor activities. Celebrate in-person only with those in your immediate household, and share your greetings with others from afar or—if available to you—by taking advantage of the many virtual options available. If you live alone, consider celebrating with one other household only—or connect with others virtually.We know that this is going to be difficult, but the consequences if we do not follow this advice will be much worse. We must do everything in our power to protect our whole community, together.

Trish Baird, Chief Executive Officer, Community Care Northumberland

Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director, Rebound Child and Youth Services

Adrienne Bell-Smith, Executive Director, Northumberland Family Health Team

Linda Davis, President and CEO, Northumberland Hills Hospital

Delayne Donald, Executive Director, Trent Hills Family Health Team

Varouj Eskedjian, President and CEO, Campbellford Memorial Hospital

Kaye Jackson, caregiver representative

Kerri-Anne Kidd, Executive Director, The Bridge Hospice

Scott MacPherson, patient representative

Jennifer Moore, Chief Administrative Officer, Northumberland County

Wendy Parker, Executive Director, Lakeview Family Health Team

Taryn Rennicks, Executive Director, Community Health Centres of Northumberland

Nora Sawyer, Interim Manager, Alderville First Nation Health and Social Services

Looking for more information on COVID-19?

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland to host second interactive COVID-19 Virtual Forum

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 21:16:00 GMT

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland to host interactive COVID-19 Virtual Forum

Northumberland County, Ontario – Friday, November 27, 2020 – COVID-19 has brought unprecedented change to daily life in Northumberland County.

With wave 2 of this global pandemic now upon us, many have questions.

To help answer these, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N)—a partnership of local patients, caregivers, health and community care agencies—will host a second interactive virtual event.

What is the status of COVID-19 cases in Northumberland? How do I access COVID-19 assessment and testing? What practices are in place at long-term care homes to keep residents safe? What home and community supports are available to me? When is a vaccine expected and how will this be coordinated? These questions and more will be addressed in a 60-minute COVID-19 Virtual Forum taking place on Thursday, December 10.

Join five panelists from the OHT-N, who will open the Forum with a high level overview of local health and community care providers’ response to the pandemic to date and the partnerships that have proven very valuable to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in Northumberland County.

There are two options to join: online, via the ZOOM platform, or by telephone.

Participants will be able to ask questions directly of the panelists as well as other OHTN representatives, including both County hospitals, primary care providers, Northumberland County paramedics, community care agencies, long-term care providers and more.

“The OHT-N was one of 24 such partnerships formed across Ontario prior to COVID-19. Here in Northumberland it continues to be an invaluable network to support a coordinated response and positive health outcomes,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N and President and CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital. “It will take all 2 of us to successfully beat COVID-19 and we have been extremely grateful to have the relationships in place around the OHT-N table to support the work required, including but certainly not limited to the establishment of three COVID-19 assessment and testing centres. We look forward to sharing information, answering questions and hearing from area residents about what more we can be doing, collectively, to help as we move forward together.”

Who

Moderated by Linda Davis, President and CEO, Northumberland Hills Hospital, this Forum will include the following OHT-N presenters:

Hospital sector – Varouj Eskedjian, President & CEO, Campbellford Memorial Hospital
Municipal services (including paramedics and long-term care) - Jennifer Moore, Chief Administrative Officer, Northumberland County
Primary care sector – Adrienne Bell-Smith, Executive Director, Northumberland Family Health Team
Community care sector - Trish Baird, Executive Director, Community Care Northumberland

Why

Join the conversation, ask questions or just listen in. This Forum is offered by the OHT-N partners as an opportunity to hear how community partners continue to work together to support local needs and flatten COVID-19’s second wave and to answer questions (or recommend resources for) the issues that are top-of-mind.

Media Contacts

Kate Campbell

Director, Communications
Northumberland County
Phone: 905-372-3329 x2335
Email Kate Campbel l

Jennifer Gillard

Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland Hills Hospital
Phone: 905-377-7757
Email Jennifer Gillard

Public Notice: Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic community survey

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 21:08:00 GMT

Public Notice: Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic community survey

Cramahe Township - October 30, 2020 – The Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N), in partnership with Township of Cramahe, is moving forward with plans to establish a Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne as a year-one priority initiative. As part of the process for determining which health and community care services will be provided at this location, the OHT-N is inviting area residents to complete a two-minute survey.

Local patients, caregivers, health and community care providers are working together through the OHT-N partnership to improve the coordination of care and services for our community. Formed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, the OHT-N is proving to be a very effective table for mobilizing community resources to create accessible health and community care for both our rural and urban communities.

With many Northumberland residents living in rural areas, a priority year-one focus for the OHT-N is establishing a rural outreach clinic to reduce barriers to care that residents in these areas may face, such as access, transportation and outreach challenges. In partnership with the Township of Cramahe, the OHT-N will therefore be launching a clinic in Colborne, at 34 Victoria Street.A phased approach will be taken to service delivery at this location, with services introduced over time. Services will be determined based on community needs as well as health and community care provider capacity and other operational considerations.

In order to best understand community needs, the OHT-N and the municipality are inviting area residents to complete a short survey to share the top three services that would be most important for you and your family. This survey, which will take approximately two minutes to complete, is available online until November 16th. To share your feedback, please visit Lets Talk Cramahe website .

Third dedicated COVID-19 testing service preparing to open in Northumberland

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 21:05:00 GMT

Third dedicated COVID-19 testing service preparing to open in Northumberland

Northumberland County, Ontario – Tuesday, October 27, 2020 – Local health and community care providers continue to work together through the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partnership to maximize Northumberland County’s capacity for COVID-19 assessment and testing.

Formed prior to the pandemic, the OHT-N has quickly mobilized community resources around this unprecedented public health challenge.

As announced October 9, the partners are taking a proactive, phased approach to care delivery by focusing health human resources where they are needed most while preparing to quickly increase additional testing capacity as local needs require and in step with provincial direction.

Up to now, COVID-19 assessment and testing services have been focused on two centres within Northumberland County:

the NHH COVID-19 Assessment Centre at Northumberland Hills Hospital; and
the Trent Hills COVID-19 Testing Centre in Campbellford.

Testing is also available on an emergency basis via the Emergency Departments at both Northumberland Hills Hospital and Campbellford Memorial Hospital, and in a ‘pop-up’ capacity through the Community Paramedicine team of Northumberland Paramedics. To date, pop-up support has responded to unique needs as they have arisen at a range of long-term care and retirement homes, Alderville First Nation and various congregate living settings, such as Transition House shelter.

Beginning Wednesday, November 4, a third dedicated COVID-19 testing site—this one focused primarily on service for individuals without symptoms—will be introduced in Northumberland County by the OHTN partners. It will operate four [updated from three] days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday [Friday added]), and be located at the The Port Hope Community Hub (formerly the Canton Municipal Hall) at 5325 County Road 10, just north of Canton.

“The specific aim of the Canton COVID-19 Testing Centre is to provide another local option for those without active symptoms, such as those who require a test because they wish to visit a loved one in an area long-term care home, or those who may have been exposed in a work or school setting,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N and President and CEO at Northumberland Hills Hospital. “This new service in Canton will provide another option for these people, thereby adding capacity at our existing sites to cater to those with COVID-19 or other respiratory-like symptoms. On behalf of the OHT-N members, I thank the Municipality of Port Hope for their support in this work.”

“This initiative is a tremendous example of how community collaboration and shared resources can benefit residents throughout the County, and we are proud to participate in this proactive approach alongside OHT-N,” adds Bob Sanderson, Warden of Northumberland County and Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope. “This partnership streamlines the testing process, will allow more people to get tested, and will hopefully result in shorter wait times at the Centres. I commend the OHT-N and their team for the careful planning and delivery of these services amid the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Like the NHH COVID-19 Assessment Centre and the Trent Hills COVID-19 Testing Centre, the new Canton COVID-19 Testing Centre will see patients by appointment only. Appointments will be coordinated through the existing booking line at NHH: 905-377-7783. This model will allow the OHT-N partners to prioritize those who most require assessment and testing—based on the latest provincial eligibility criteria—align booking with patient needs, including their geographic location, and better manage physical distancing requirements at all three sites.

Services will continue as previously communicated at the two pre-existing Centres. Patients needing to see a physician/nurse practitioner will continue to be booked for appointments at the NHH site.

The decision to focus the new service in Canton on the needs of those without symptoms is intended to better support the following:

Pre-operative patients who require a negative COVID-19 test prior to receiving a surgical procedure
Caregivers or visitors to long-term care residents • Individuals with employment-related or public health-directed testing needs
Other general testing that does not require the specific services of a full assessment centre

In an effort to free up much-needed space within the Northumberland Hills Hospital’s Emergency Department, where the Centre is currently being operated, and minimize traffic in and out of the main hospital site, NHH will also transition its COVID-19 Assessment Centre this week to the new self-enclosed trailer that has been set up on the lawn immediately in front of the Emergency Department entrance. No change to services is anticipated. Signage will direct patients accordingly. This move will take place on/around October 28.
Below are the services available at each Centre, and the numbers to call to access each.

Assessment Centres

NHH Covid-19 Assessment Centre

Location: 1000 DePalma Drive, Cobourg – entry is currently adjacent to the NHH Emergency Department, with a dedicated entry/exit; it is expected to be relocated in the coming weeks into the NEW trailer space being installed October 8, 2020.
Hours: Open daily, 8AM to 4PM
Services:
COVID-19 testing for eligible patients
Primary care provider assessment (Nurse Practitioner, physician) of patients eligible for COVID-19 testing as needed for other related care needs, eg. strep throat, common cold, prescription, etc.
Pre-scheduled appointments only – call 905-377-7783

Trent Hills Covid19 Testing Centre

Location: At 146 Oliver Road in Campbellford, lower side level of Campbellford Memorial Hospital (the old Ambulance Bay).
Hours: Open Monday to Thursday, 9AM to 5PM
Services:
COVID-19 testing available for eligible patients
Pre-scheduled appointments only – call 705-395-1801

Canton Covid-19 Testing Centre (Effective Wednesday, November 4)

Location: At the Port Hope Community Hub (formerly the Canton Municipal Hall), 5325 County Road 10, just north of Canton
Hours: Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday, 8AM to 4PM
Services:
COVID-19 testing for those without active symptoms
Pre-scheduled appointments only – call 905-377-7783 to book

Who should be tested at the Centres listed above?

Local residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a local COVID-19 Assessment Centre if they:
have COVID-19 symptoms (see what those symptoms are, or take a self assessment, on Ontario’s COVID-19 website
have been notified by public health or the COVID Alert app that they have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus;
have been notified by public health that they are a resident or worker in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak;
have had a school health nurse, public health or primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) tell them to be tested;
are eligible for testing as part of a targeted Ministry of Health testing initiative;
live or work in a setting considered at-risk for COVID-19, such as a long-term care home, community shelter or other congregate living setting;
will be visiting a long-term care home.

Looking forward

The OHT-N partners are prepared to implement mobile pop-up services swiftly for specific institutional or community sites as required, with support from Northumberland County’s Community Paramedicine program. Hours of operation may also be adjusted at the testing and assessment sites listed above, as need arises.

Precautionary measures are the best defense

Taking precautionary measures is the best way to continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The OHTN encourages Northumberland residents and visitors to:

Maintain physical distancing: Don’t give the virus a chance to spread. Keep a minimum distance of two metres (six feet) from other people outside of your immediate household.
Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible, or required
Practice good hand hygiene: Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands.
Limit your social circle: Carefully observe provincial recommendations for limiting contacts outside your immediate household. As we head into a long weekend, OHT-N partners are strongly urging Northumberland residents to avoid the traditional Thanksgiving gatherings this year, to minimize the risk of spreading the virus or exposing those in our families and social circles who may be vulnerable.
Download the COVID Alert app - Get a phone alert if you may have been exposed to COVID-19, and let others know if you test positive without sharing any personal information, by downloading the COVID Alert app

About the OHT-N

Drawing on a strong history of collaboration, patients, caregivers, health and social care providers from across Northumberland County are working together to improve patient and caregiver experience of health care in our community, as well as provider work-life experience, through the Ontario Health Team (OHT) model. On December 6, 2019, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott visited the Colborne Emergency Services Base to announce the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland 3 (OHT-N) as one of the first 24 OHT candidates in the province. The OHT-N is now moving forward with implementing this new model of organizing and delivering health care, better connecting local patients and health care providers in order to improve patient outcomes. COVID-19 has provided an unexpected opportunity to capitalize on these partnerships. For more information please visit the OHT-N website, OHTNorthumberland.ca, follow the team on Twitter @OHT_Nthld, email the OHT-N directly at info@ohtnorthumberland.ca or reach out by phone care of 905-377-7757 or 905-372-3329, ext. 2335.

Media Contacts

Jennifer Gillard

Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland Hills Hospital
905-377-7757

Email Jennifer Gillard

Kate Campbell

Director, Communications
Northumberland County
905-372-3329, ext. 2335
Email Kate Campbell

Kate Ingram

Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator
Municipality of Port Hope
905-885-4544, ext. 2248
Email Kate Ingram

Local health and care providers working together to maximize capacity for assessment and testing

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 20:58:00 GMT

Local health and care providers working together to maximize capacity for assessment and testing

Northumberland County, Ontario – Friday, October 9, 2020 – Local health and community care providers are working together through the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partnership to maximize Northumberland County’s capacity for COVID-19 assessment and testing.

Formed prior to the pandemic, the OHT-N is proving to be a very effective table to quickly mobilize community resources around this unprecedented public health challenge.

The partners are implementing a proactive, phased approach to care delivery that is currently focusing health human resources where they are needed most (in Northumberland’s two COVID-19 Assessment Centres) while preparing to quickly increase additional testing capacity as local needs require and provincial direction permits.

Phase 1 - COVID-19 Assessment and Testing Services Now Available in Northumberland County

Staffed by a mix of hospital, primary care and community paramedics, the two dedicated COVID-19 Centres serving patients in Northumberland County currently operate on an ‘appointment only’ basis. Per provincial direction, patients are now required to phone the Centres in advance to schedule an appointment (walk-in appointments are no longer available). This model allows clinic staff to prioritize those who most require assessment and testing—based on the latest provincial eligibility criteria—and to manage physical distancing requirements.

The services available at each Centre differ slightly. Through a temporary arrangement with the Northumberland Family Health Team, the Community Health Centres of Northumberland, and local primary care physicians, the NHH COVID-19 Assessment Centre (open daily, 8AM to 4PM) is now able to offer patients the option to see a primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) in addition to receiving a COVID-19 test. The aim of the primary care provider access is three-fold: to improve access for local families in need of a physician or nurse practitioner’s assessment for symptoms that may or may not be COVID-19 at the same time testing is received; to provide care to patients with COVID-19 symptoms in a dedicated space, outside of the family physicians’ office where other patients are receiving care; and, to reduce strain on area primary care offices, thereby freeing them up to focus on other patient care needs.

In an effort to free up much-needed space within the hospital’s Emergency Department, where the Centre is currently being operated, and minimize traffic in and out of the main hospital site, NHH has secured a new self-enclosed trailer that will be set up on the lawn immediately in front of the entrance. No change in service is anticipated, and the transition to the new trailer is expected to be possible in the coming weeks.

Planning is taking place to determine the need to expand services available at the Trent Hills COVID-19 Testing Centre in Campbellford, as well. Currently, the Campbellford Centre is open Monday to Thursday from 9AM to 5PM.
Below are the services currently available at each Centre, and the numbers to call to access these services.

Assessment Centres

NHH Covid-19 Assessment Centre

Location: 1000 DePalma Drive, Cobourg – entry is currently adjacent to the NHH Emergency Department, with a dedicated entry/exit; it is expected to be relocated in the coming weeks into the NEW trailer space being installed October 8, 2020.

Hours: Open daily, 8AM to 4PM

Services:

COVID-19 testing for eligible patients

Primary care provider assessment (Nurse Practitioner, physician) of patients eligible for COVID-19 testing as needed for other related care needs, eg. strep throat, common cold, prescription, etc.

Pre-scheduled appointments only – call 905-377-7783

Trent Hills Covid19 Testing Centre

Location: At 146 Oliver Road in Campbellford, lower side level of Campbellford Memorial Hospital (the old Ambulance Bay).

Hours: Open Monday to Thursday, 9AM to 5PM

Services:

COVID-19 testing available for eligible patients

Pre-scheduled appointments only – call 705-395-1801

Who should be tested at the Centres listed above?

Local residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a local COVID-19 Assessment Centre if they:
have COVID-19 symptoms (see what those symptoms are, or take a self assessment, on Ontario’s COVID-19 website
have been notified by public health or the COVID Alert app that they have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus;
have been notified by public health that they are a resident or worker in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak;
have had a school health nurse, public health or primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) tell them to be tested;
are eligible for testing as part of a targeted Ministry of Health testing initiative;
live or work in a setting considered at-risk for COVID-19, such as a long-term care home, community shelter or other congregate living setting;
will be visiting a long-term care home.

If the transmission of COVID-19 increases, the demand for assessment and testing is expected to increase too.

“As a team, your OHT-N wants to be in a position to swiftly open dedicated testing sites to help you get the support you need, and avoid our existing Assessment Centres, Emergency Departments and primary care offices from being overwhelmed,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N and President and CEO at Northumberland Hills Hospital.

With that goal in mind, Phase 2 of the Team’s planning has laid out the steps necessary to open additional testing sites at alternate locations in the County. Mobile pop-up services will also be implemented swiftly for specific institutional or community sites as required, with support from Northumberland County’s Community Paramedicine program. Hours of operation may also be adjusted at the two existing sites, as need arises.

Key factors in the opening of additional assessment and testing capacity in Northumberland will be an increase in the prevalence of the virus in our community and the associated need to test.

“The turnaround time for test results is currently longer than desired in some cases,” said Davis. “This is due to the large number of tests being performed across the province. As announced by the province on October 6th , the government will be adding more testing locations to improve access and reduce wait times, as well as increased processing capacity within the provincial laboratory network. Our aim here in Northumberland is to be ready to respond as needed.”

Taking precautionary measures is the best way to continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The OHTN encourages Northumberland residents and visitors to:

Maintain physical distancing: Don’t give the virus a chance to spread. Keep a minimum distance of two metres (six feet) from other people outside of your immediate household.
Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible, or required
Practice good hand hygiene: Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands.
Limit your social circle: Carefully observe provincial recommendations for limiting contacts outside your immediate household. As we head into a long weekend, OHT-N partners are strongly urging Northumberland residents to avoid the traditional Thanksgiving gatherings this year, to minimize the risk of spreading the virus or exposing those in our families and social circles who may be vulnerable.

Download the COVID Alert app - Get a phone alert if you may have been exposed to COVID-19, and let others know if you test positive without sharing any personal information, by downloading the COVID Alert app

About the OHT-N

Drawing on a strong history of collaboration, patients, caregivers, health and social care providers from across Northumberland County are working together to improve patient and caregiver experience of health care in our community, as well as provider work-life experience, through the Ontario Health Team (OHT) model. On December 6, 2019, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott visited the Colborne Emergency Services Base to announce the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) as one of the first 24 OHT candidates in the province. The OHT-N is now moving forward with implementing this new model of organizing and delivering health care, better connecting local patients and health care providers in order to improve patient outcomes. COVID-19 has provided an unexpected opportunity to capitalize on these partnerships. For more information please visit the OHT-N website, OHTNorthumberland.ca, email the team care of info@ohtnorthumberland.ca or reach out by phone care of the contacts below.

Media Contacts

Jennifer Gillard

Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland Hills Hospital
905-377-7757
Email Jennifer Gillard

Kate Campbell

Director, Communications
Northumberland County
905-372-3329, ext. 2335
Email Kate Campbell

OHT-N urges continued vigilance in preventive measures against COVID-19 as reopening plans progress

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 20:49:00 GMT

OHT-N urges continued vigilance in preventive measures against COVID-19 as reopening plans progress

Northumberland County, Ontario – Thursday, June 11, 2020 – As COVID-19 restrictions continue to lift across Ontario and more local businesses and community services cautiously reopen to the public, Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) partners are reminding residents of the importance of remaining vigilant in taking preventive measures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

At their weekly meeting May 28, the OHT-N partners approved a plan to collect, clean, package and distribute hand-made cloth masks to their patients and clients, as donations permit, with easy to use instructions on how to wear them and care for them properly.

“As we progress with Phase 2 of the provincial reopening plan, more businesses and services in our community are becoming available to the public. While the temptation with these reduced restrictions is to relax our efforts against this virus, infectious disease experts continue to reinforce that this would be premature,” says Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N. “It has been inspiring to see everyone in Northumberland doing their part to tackle this unprecedented health care emergency. We have met the challenge of COVID-19 as a community and this collective effort is achieving results: the number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases locally remains low and, most importantly, we have had no deaths.

"This virus continues to actively circulate, and we each have a shared responsibility to do everything within our power to sustain our current low number of cases. OHT-N partners therefore strongly encourage community members to continue diligently following public health recommendations to limit the potential for spread of COVID-19 in Northumberland as local reopening plans are implemented.”

Taking precautionary measures is the best way to continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The OHTN encourages Northumberland residents and visitors to:

Practice good hand hygiene: Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth unless you have just washed your hands.
Maintain physical distancing: Don’t give the virus a chance to spread. Keep a minimum distance of two metres (six feet) from other people outside of your immediate social circle.
Limit your social circle: Carefully observe provincial recommendations for limiting your household’s social circle to no more than 10 people, including the members of your household.
Stay home if you are ill.

OHT-N partners also strongly endorse the July 7 order issued by Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDU) Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy requiring non-medical masks or face coverings in commercial establishments in Northumberland.

Effective July 13, this requirement builds on recommendations from federal and provincial health authorities urging Canadians to wear non-medical face masks or face coverings in public spaces, especially when physical distancing may be a challenge. Face masks or coverings minimize the spread of infection when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Under the HKPRDU order, owners and operators of local commercial establishments must create policies requiring people to wear a non-medical face mask or face covering when on their premises. This includes establishments such as malls, retail stores, convenience stores, restaurants, personal service settings, grocery stores, bakeries, gas stations, indoor farmers’ markets, and areas of mechanics’ shops/garages/repair shops which are open to the public. Learn more about this order from HKPR District Health Unit.

In June, the OHT-N issued a call for sewing volunteers to produce and donate reusable cloth masks for distribution to local health and social care patients/clients, to encourage local use and help preserve medical grade surgical masks for healthcare and frontline use. A sincere thank you to all who have contributed to this campaign to date. Donations continue to be accepted. Learn more about how to donate to this ongoing effort. These cloth masks are being distributed to residents as supply permits.

For information on how to put on, remove and clean a non-medical face mask, see the Health Canada recommendations here.
For the most up-to-date provincial information on COVID-19, including symptoms and the status of cases in the province, visit Ontario’s dedicated COVID-19 website. For local updates, visit the HKPR District Health Unit website.

About the OHT-N

Drawing on a strong history of collaboration, patients, caregivers, health and social care providers from across Northumberland County are working together to improve patient and caregiver experience of health care in our community, as well as provider work-life experience, through the Ontario Health Team (OHT) model. On December 6, 2019, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott visited the Colborne Emergency Services Base to announce the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) as one of the first 24 OHT candidates in the province. The OHT-N is now moving forward with implementing this new model of organizing and delivering health care, better connecting local patients and health care providers in order to improve patient outcomes. COVID-19 has provided an unexpected opportunity to capitalize on these partnerships. For more information please visit the OHT-N website, OHTNorthumberland.ca, email the team care of info@ohtnorthumberland.ca or reach out by phone care of the contacts below.

Media Contacts

Jennifer Gillard

Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland Hills Hospital
905-377-7757

Email Jennifer Gillard

Kate Campbell

Director, Communications
Northumberland County
905-372-3329, ext. 2335
Email Kate Campbell

OHT-N seeking volunteers to produce masks to help preserve local use of medical grade surgical masks

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 20:44:00 GMT

OHT-N seeking volunteers to produce masks to help preserve local use of medical grade surgical masks

Northumberland County, Ontario – Thursday, June 11, 2020 – With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to lift in Ontario, and federal and provincial public health authorities now recommending cloth face coverings for all as an additional means of minimizing the spread of infection when physical distancing is not possible, local Ontario Health Team of Northumberland partners are calling on area volunteers to help them ensure their patients and clients have a ready supply.

"Two observations have motivated us to take this step together at this time,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N. “First, many local residents told us at and after our recent COVID-19 Virtual Forum that they would like a mask to wear when they visit the grocery store or pharmacy, but they are having trouble finding one. Second, as OHT-N members prepare to ramp up their services, many—including the Northumberland Family Health Team, Community Health Centres of Northumberland and Rebound Child and Youth Services to name a few—will be asking their patients and clients to wear a mask when they come to their appointment. By working together, we hope to preserve precious medical grade personal protective equipment (PPE) for those delivering direct patient care by helping to get cloth mask alternatives into the hands of our patients and clients. We also see an opportunity to increase education on how to safely ‘don and doff’ (put on and take off) a face mask, as it may increase risk if used incorrectly.”

The OHT-N partners have a ready-made distribution network to help get more cloth masks in circulation among their Northumberland patients and clients quickly. The intent is that those who receive one will keep it and reuse it in the community and for subsequent appointments. They are calling today for volunteers to help by sewing masks to the specifications below, and dropping off donations of completed masks at one of two collection points below. If transportation is a challenge, donated masks may be mailed in as well.

Is there a specific design to follow when making a cloth mask?

The Centre for Disease Control in the U.S has several different patterns to follow. Download instructions for making cloth masks, including advice on preferred materials. Elastic is strongly recommended rather than ties for securing the masks as ties have been found to be difficult for many wearers to put on and take off.

How can I drop off my masks?

Please put your sewn masks in a plastic bag with your contact information (name, address, email address and phone number). This contact information will give us the opportunity to thank you. Masks may be dropped off to the following locations, as noted:
[NEW] - BRIGHTON – Community Care Northumberland – 46 Prince Edward Street (please call or email in advance to arrange drop-off time as the office remains closed – 613-475-4190)
CAMPBELLFORD – Community Living Campbellford – 65 Bridge Street East (please call in advance, as hours are intermittent - 705-653-1821, ext 203)
COBOURG - Northumberland Hills Hospital’s main entrance, 1000 DePalma Drive – between 8 AM and 8 PM daily

Masks may also be mailed to the OHT-N care of:Northumberland Hills Hospital (attention: Charity Meiklejohn)
1000 DePalma Drive
Cobourg, ON K9A 5W6

When will these masks be available, and how can I get one?

Distribution will start as soon as supplies permit, beginning with distribution from OHT-N primary care partners and, as time and hours of operation permit, eventually extending to all OHT-N partners. See the OHT-N website for a listing of partners, and future updates on mask availability.

Helping to build local access to cloth face masks as a means of minimizing the spread of COVID19 is consistent with the objectives of the OHT-N, which are to:

Improve patient and caregiver experience
Improve health outcomes
Improve provider work life experience
Improve value to the community

“The OHT-N partners thank all those able to put their talents to work for the good of Northumberland County,” said Linda Davis. “County residents have worked very effectively together with area health and social care organizations to minimize the impact of COVID-19. The number of confirmed positive cases in our region remains very low and we have a shared responsibility to sustain this. This mask campaign is a further step we can take together as partners to keep our community safe.”
For information on how to put on, remove and clean a non-medical face mask, see the Health Canada recommendations .

About the OHT-N

Drawing on a strong history of collaboration, patients, caregivers, health and social care providers from across Northumberland County are working together to improve patient and caregiver experience of health care in our community, as well as provider work-life experience, through the Ontario Health Team (OHT) model. On December 6, 2019, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott visited the Colborne Emergency Services Base to announce the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) as one of the first 24 OHT candidates in the province. The OHT-N is now moving forward with implementing this new model of organizing and delivering health care, better connecting local patients and health care providers in order to improve patient outcomes. COVID-19 has provided an unexpected opportunity to capitalize on these partnerships. For more information please visit the OHT-N website, ohtnorthumberland.ca, email the team care of info@ohtnorthumberland.ca or reach out by phone care of the contacts below.

Media Contacts

Jennifer Gillard

Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland Hills Hospital
905-377-7757

Email Jennifer Gillard

Kate Campbell

Director, Communications
Northumberland County
905-372-3329, ext. 2335
Email Kate Campbell

OHT-N to host interactive COVID-19 Virtual Forum

Fri, 08 May 2020 20:29:00 GMT

OHT-N to host interactive COVID-19 Virtual Forum

Northumberland County, Ontario – Friday, May 8, 2020 – COVID-19 has brought unprecedented change to daily life in Northumberland County.

As the global pandemic continues to evolve, many have questions.

To help answer these, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N)—a partnership of local patients, caregivers, health and social care agencies—will host an interactive virtual event.

What is the status of COVID-19 cases in Northumberland? How do I access COVID-19 assessment and testing? Can I book an appointment with my family physician? What practices are in place at long-term care homes to keep residents safe? What mental health supports are available to me? These questions and more will be addressed in a 60-minute COVID-19 Virtual Forum taking place on Wednesday, May 13.

Residents are invited to join five panelists from the OHT-N, who will open the Forum with a high level overview of local health and social care providers’ response to the pandemic to date and the partnerships that have proven very valuable to minimize the impact of COVID-19 in Northumberland County. Participants will then be able to ask questions directly of the panelists as well as other OHT-N representatives, including public health, both County hospitals, primary care providers, paramedics, community care agencies, Alderville First Nation health and social services, long-term care providers and more.

“The OHT-N was one of 24 such partnerships formed across Ontario prior to COVID-19. Here in Northumberland it has proven to be an invaluable network to support a coordinated response and positive health outcomes,” said Linda Davis, spokesperson for the OHT-N and President and CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital. “It will take all of us to successfully beat COVID-19 and we have been extremely grateful to have the relationships in place around the OHT-N table to support the work required. We look 2 forward to sharing information, answering questions and hearing from area residents about what more we can be doing, collectively, to help as we move forward together.”

Who

OHT-N panelists for the Virtual Forum will include:

Hospital sector - Linda Davis, President & CEO, Northumberland Hills Hospital
Public health - Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, Medical Officer of Health, HKPR District Health Unit
Municipal services (including paramedics and long-term care) - Jennifer Moore, Chief Administrative Officer, Northumberland County
Primary care sector - Wendy Parker, Executive Director, Lakeview Family Health Team
Community care sector - Trish Baird, Executive Director, Community Care Northumberland

Why

Learn more about how local health care partners are working together to ensure safe practices are in place to minimize the spread of the virus in the County. Get answers to your COVID-19 questions from local public health, hospital, primary care, community care and municipal leaders.

Government of Ontario Funding Community Paramedicine in Northumberland

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 20:23:00 GMT

Government of Ontario Funding Community Paramedicine in Northumberland

Cobourg, ON – Today, David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament for Northumberland-Peterborough South, joined by members of Ontario Health Team – Northumberland, Northumberland County staff and frontline paramedics announced that the Government of Ontario is funding Community Paramedicine in Northumberland as a part of the province’s plan to end hallway health care and support better patient centred care.

“Today’s announcement means our residents will have improved access to care and the community support services they need,” said MPP David Piccini. “Community Paramedicine helps patients get the right level of care at the right time, reduces unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital admissions. This program will also help seniors and patients with chronic conditions better manage their conditions and stay healthy.”

Building on Northumberland Paramedics’ provision of industry-leading pre-hospital care, the Community Paramedicine program will expand the role of paramedics, enabling them to apply their training and skills beyond the traditional focus of emergency response to roles including:

Providing home visits to seniors or individuals known to call emergency services frequently, to provide a range of pre-emptive services (for example, ensuring they are taking their medications as prescribed).
Educating seniors in their homes about chronic disease management and helping connect them to local supports, such as Diabetes Education Teams.
Helping refer patients to Community Care Northumberland so that they can be provided with the appropriate support services to remain independent within their own homes and communities.

This news comes on the heels of the recent Ontario Health Team – Northumberland announcement made in Colborne in December. The province is introducing Ontario Health Teams, a new model of care that brings together health care providers to work as one team.

Community Paramedicine was one of a handful of year-one priorities for Ontario Health Team - Northumberland and aligns with two vital pillars in the Province’s plan to end hallway health care:

Prevention and health promotion: keeping patients as healthy as possible in their communities and out of hospitals.
Providing the right care in the right place: when patients need care, ensure that they receive it in the most appropriate setting, not always the hospital.

Quotes

“This investment in Community Paramedicine will enable Northumberland’s paramedic professionals to use their full range of skills, expanding their practice beyond pre-hospital emergency care to also deliver illness prevention and health promotion services. Through the Community Paramedicine program, Northumberland Paramedics will collaborate with community partners to deliver a more coordinated continuum of care for patients, while reducing demands on the emergency response system and alleviating chronic pressures within the health care system. We are very excited to play an active role in local efforts to improve health outcomes as well as patient and caregiver experience of healthcare in our community.” Bill Detlor, Chief of Northumberland Paramedics

“Northumberland County identified their vision for a Community Paramedicine program at our very earliest OHT-N conversations. The opportunity to improve access to care through a Community Paramedicine program was compelling, particularly for the most vulnerable residents experiencing barriers to health care within the County. As such, the OHT-N partners prioritized Community Paramedicine as one of three Year One projects. We believe this will have a direct impact on reducing hallway health care. On behalf of all the OHT-N partners we applaud the province for this investment, we commend Northumberland County and Northumberland Paramedics for their vision and perseverance, and we look forward to demonstrating positive system-level results, together.” Linda Davis, spokesperson for the Collaborative Planning Table of the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

New Northumberland Ontario Health Team to Provide Better Connected Care for Patients

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 20:18:00 GMT

Ontario Health Teams Part of Province’s Plan to End Hallway Health Care

"Ontario is delivering on its commitment to end hallway health care and build a connected and sustainable health care system centred around the needs of patients. The province is introducing Ontario Health Teams, a new model of care that brings together health care providers to work as one team.

Today, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, visited the Emergency Services Base in Colborne to announce the Northumberland Ontario Health Team as one of the first 24 teams in the province to implement a new model of organizing and delivering health care that better connects patients and providers in their communities to improve patient outcomes."

OHT-N Collaborative Planning Committee welcomes Ministry of Health representatives for site visit

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:06:00 GMT

OHT-N Collaborative Planning Committee welcomes Ministry of Health representatives for site visit

Northumberland County - Thursday, November 21, 2019 – Northumberland County welcomed representatives from the Ministry of Health to Port Hope on Friday, November 15 for an in-person community site visit of the proposed Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N). The visit, hosted at the Community Health Centres of Northumberland, represents the final step in the local Ontario Health Team application process which formally began eight months ago with the Province of Ontario’s call for interest.
Patient, caregiver and Alderville First Nation representatives joined with representatives from both County hospitals, primary care providers, community health centres, family health teams, long-term care, home and community care support services, Emergency Medical Services, hospice palliative care, housing and mental health for the three-hour presentation and discussion.

The visit opened with a presentation from members of the OHT-N Collaborative Planning Committee detailing the key elements of the local application, the engagement strategies to date for developing the proposed Year 1 priority projects (namely, creation of a Volunteer Peer Support initiative, a Community Paramedicine initiative and the establishment of Rural Outreach Clinics), and the background work completed to date.

Ministry of Health representatives then had the opportunity to pose questions based on the presentation and the full OHT-N application submitted October 9, 2019. In addition to the OHTN’s proposed priority projects, questions explored the extent of local primary care participation (in Northumberland this is now over 97 per cent—believed to be among the highest for any OHT to date), barriers or enablers that could hinder or accelerate the local OHT model implementation, relationships and linkages with other OHTs, target population (in Year 1 and beyond) and patient/caregiver engagement.

In addition to Northumberland, 30 other communities were invited to complete the full OHT application. Site visits of those who submitted full applications have been occurring in recent 2 weeks. The Ministry of Health has advised that it expects to be announcing the first OHTs deemed ready to implement the Ontario Health Team model later this fall.

For further information on the OHT-N proposal, and the Ontario Health Team model, please see the new OHT-N website , launched following the Northumberland site visit or call or email the team via the contacts listed below.

For more information

Kate Campbell

Director, Communications
Northumberland County
555 Courthouse Road, Cobourg, ON
905-372-3329 ext. 2335
Email Kate Campbell

Jennifer Gillard

Senior Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Northumberland Hills Hospital
1000 DePalma Drive, Cobourg
905-377-7757
Email Jennifer Gillard

Final proposal submitted for formation of Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 19:58:00 GMT

Final proposal submitted for formation of Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

Northumberland County - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 – Following months of intensive planning and discussion, the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee (signatories and affiliates listed in attached backgrounder) will today submit a final-stage application to the province to form the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N).

With participants including patient, caregiver and First Nation representatives, both county hospitals, primary care providers and physician specialists, community health centres and family health teams, long-term care, home and community care support services, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), hospice palliative care, housing and mental health representatives, this Northumberland group was one of 31 invited by the province in July to develop a full application, following submission of a self-assessment this past spring. The proposal being submitted today seeks to amplify patient and caregiver voices within the health care system and better align health care stakeholders and providers, closing gaps and improving the coordination of care and services.

The provincial government introduced OHTs in March as a new model of health care delivery. The aim is to better connect different parts of the health system by bringing together patients/residents, families, communities, providers and system leaders as one team, to deliver a coordinated continuum of care to people in a defined geographic area. The members of the teams, even if in different organizations or physical locations, will work together toward common goals for strengthening local programs and services, improving access and quality of care.

While the province’s vision is to have all care coordinated through OHTs in the future, the first OHTs will be expected to test local application of the integrated care concept through targeted projects serving specific populations. In Year One, the OHT-N will focus on access to comprehensive health care services for rural populations within Northumberland County – specifically those who experience significant barriers to health care. Based on input and data gathered to date, efforts will be focused on the following proposed projects:

Volunteer Peer Support: This initiative will match key volunteers with people in our community who require informal support, broadening their social network and assisting them to navigate and access the health care services they need.
Community Paramedicine: Leveraging the skills and training of Northumberland Paramedics, this initiative will provide proactive services for patients who use 9-1-1 services due to system gaps/challenges/ access to community care. This will include remote monitoring for appropriate patients.
Rural Outreach Clinics: Multiple partners will bring services and clinicians together to rural community locations to reduce barriers to care experienced by patients in small, rural areas, such as access, transportation and outreach challenges.

Recognizing the critical importance of partnerships with patients and caregivers in the planning, design and governance of OHTs to ensure meaningful change to current systems, the Northumberland proposal also emphasizes the Team’s commitment to patient/caregiver partnership and community engagement, including:

Patient and caregiver partner representation within all OHT-N governance, planning and project team structures;
Adoption of a Patient/Caregiver Partnership and Community Engagement Framework, reflecting international best practices and the Patient Declaration of Values for Ontario, setting out the commitment to ongoing consultation to validate proposed Year One projects, assess the local services/supports needed most and inform future year priorities.
Creation of Northumberland’s first county-wide Patient and Family Advisory Council
The intent to establish, in the future, a local Ombudsperson role.

Officials have confirmed that the first OHTs will be announced this fall, with the province continuing to accept applications and evaluate interested groups over time. Background information about OHTs is available from the Ministry of Health .

Quotes

“I applaud The Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee for their hard work and collaborative efforts to date in their journey to becoming an Ontario Health Team that is specifically tailored to the needs of our rural community. The committee has demonstrated a true understanding of the government’s intent with the OHT model by co-designing this proposal with patient and caregiver representatives, and ensuring these voices are embedded in governance, advisory and consultation plans for this OHT. OHTs will improve how people connect to, and navigate, our health care system, closing gaps and improving patient and caregiver experience.” David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament, Northumberland-Peterborough South

“I believe, profoundly, in the positive change we can effect across our health care system by truly placing the patient at the centre of system design and implementation. The province confirmed that Northumberland’s initial self-evaluation, submitted in May, demonstrated a strong commitment to the vision of a patient-centered, integrated health care system, and a high state of readiness to move forward collaboratively. As a moderate-to-heavy user of the healthcare system since my youth, I have appreciated the opportunity to contribute my perspective and key learnings to this process, and I look forward to facilitating future implementation.” Scott Macpherson, Patient Representative

“Over 90 per cent of the primary care physicians in Northumberland have signed on to support the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland. This is a welcome opportunity to improve both service delivery and patient experience through enhanced integration and coordination of care across the health care continuum.” Dr. Erin Pepper, Primary Care Physician, Northumberland Family Health Team

“The government’s announcement of the Ontario Health Team model presented a unique opportunity for local organizations to go beyond our previous partnerships to actually co-design, with patients and providers, specific, tangible improvements to enhance the delivery of care in our community. We believe we have developed a proposal for service delivery that will improve health outcomes, patient and provider experience, and value for Northumberland residents. We are excited to take this next step, and look forward to demonstrating measurable progress in fulfilment of the government’s Quadruple Aim.” Linda Davis, President and CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital, on behalf of the OHT-N Collaborative Planning Committee

Proposed Ontario Health Team for Northumberland one of 31 teams in province selected to move forward

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 19:52:00 GMT

Proposed Ontario Health Team for Northumberland one of 31 teams in province selected to move forward

Northumberland County - Thursday, July 18, 2019 – In an email notification received earlier today, the Ministry of Health advised that the local proposal to form an Ontario Health Team for Northumberland has moved to the next stage, with the planning committee now invited to submit a full application. The Northumberland application was one of 31 approved to move to this next step out of over 150 applications submitted.

Building on a strong history of local collaboration to deliver coordinated care for the community, health system stakeholders in Northumberland partnered on an application to form an Ontario Health Team (OHT) following a call for interest this spring.

The provincial government has introduced OHTs as a new model of health care delivery, intended to improve the coordination of care and services for patients and their families/caregivers. The aim is to better connect the often disparate parts of the health system by bringing together patients/residents, families, communities, providers and system leaders as one team, to deliver a coordinated continuum of care to people in a defined geographic area. The members of the teams, even if in different organizations or physical locations, will work together toward common goals for strengthening local services.

In response to the government’s April 2019 call for interest to form an OHT, local health system stakeholders established an Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee to submit the required self-assessment by May 15th. This Planning Committee has continued to meet and expand, with the group now including:

Local patients/caregivers
Local primary care physicians
Alderville First Nation
Alzheimer Society – Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland & Haliburton
Campbellford Memorial Hospital
Community Care Northumberland
Community Health Centres of Northumberland
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Lakeview Family Health Team
Local community mental health and addiction services
Local home and community care providers
Northumberland County
Northumberland Family Health Team
Northumberland Hills Hospital
The Bridge Hospice
Trent Hills Family Health Team

On a webcast with applicants late this morning, Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Deputy Minister Helen Angus confirmed that over 150 OHT applications had been received during the May call, far more than initially expected and—in the Ministry’s view—a demonstration of the commitment from health care providers to work together with patients and caregivers to deliver on a vision of an integrated health care system.

All teams that submitted a self-assessment have now been assessed and placed in one of the following categories:

 Proceed to Full Application – These teams have partners across the continuum of care. They are highly aligned with the model, have a high level of readiness and are well-positioned to complete the full application.
In Development – These teams have partners who represent the continuum of care, are committed to the model and with a bit more work will be well positioned to complete the full application.
In Discovery – These health care providers support the model. They are encouraged to expand their partnerships and work with other local providers in alignment with the criteria outlined in the guidance documents.

“The partners were very pleased to learn this morning that the submission we put forward from Northumberland has been approved at the most mature level, to ‘Proceed to Full Application’,” said Linda Davis, President and CEO of Northumberland Hills Hospital, on behalf of the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee. “We understand that, in addition to Northumberland, 30 other teams from across the province are in a similar position. Another 43 have been assessed at the ‘In Development’ stage and most of the balance have been assessed as ‘In Discovery’. A small number of ‘Innovative Models’ were identified for further discussion with the Ministry. Collaboration brought us to this stage, and we look forward to building on this further as we move forward.”

“I am extremely pleased that Northumberland was among one of the first teams selected by the Ministry of Health to proceed to the full application stage of becoming an Ontario Health Team,” stated David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament, Northumberland-Peterborough South. “I know that the Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee members have worked tirelessly and I have every confidence that they will be successful. This Ontario Health Team model will build upon the already strong existing collaborative partnerships in Northumberland and will make it easier for the residents of our riding to navigate and system and transition between providers.”

The deadline to submit a full application to form an OHT is October 9th. The expanded Northumberland Planning Committee has continued to meet and move the process forward since submission of the initial application, focusing on strategies to support a target population that would initially include rural residents who face barriers to accessing health care, including those experiencing isolation, homelessness, addiction, and mental health concerns, as well as those with palliative needs and limited mobility. The population served, as well as the scope of services provided, will expand over time.

The group will now focus on the requirements of the full application process in order to deliver a final proposal for a Northumberland OHT that will further improve health outcomes, patient and provider experience, and value for Northumberland residents. The broader local health and social care community, and the people served, will be engaged to support this process.

Formal notification to 150+ OHT applicants is now underway, and public communication from the Ministry is expected. Officials have confirmed that the first OHTs will be announced this fall, with the province continuing to accept applications and evaluate interested groups over time.

Background information about OHTs is available from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care .

Health system stakeholders partner on a readiness assessment to form an Ontario Health Team

Tue, 14 May 2019 19:42:00 GMT

Health system stakeholders partner on a readiness assessment to form an Ontario Health Team

Northumberland County - May 14, 2019 – Building on a strong history of collaboration to deliver coordinated care for the community, health system stakeholders in Northumberland are partnering on an application to form an Ontario Health Team (OHT).

The provincial government has introduced OHTs as a new model of health care delivery, intended to improve the coordination of care and services. The government’s vision is to better connect the health system by bringing together patients/residents, families, communities, providers and system leaders as one team, to deliver a coordinated continuum of care to people in a defined geographic area. The members of this team, even if in different organizations or physical locations, will work together toward common goals for strengthening local services.

In response to the government’s April 2019 call for applications to form an OHT, local health system stakeholders have established an Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee to submit the required self-assessment by May 15th. This

Planning Committee currently includes:

Local patients/caregivers
Local primary care physicians
Alderville First Nation
Campbellford Memorial Hospital
Community Care Northumberland
Community Health Centres of Northumberland
Northumberland County
Northumberland Family Health Team
Northumberland Hills Hospital
The Bridge Hospice
Trent Hills Family Health Team

Based on a review of all submissions, the Ministry of Health will be inviting those that demonstrate a high level of readiness to move forward with a more detailed application, due by mid-July. Should the initial application to form an OHT for Northumberland be successful, the Planning Committee will engage the broader local health and social care community, and the people served, to carry the process forward together.

This local OHT would build on existing partnerships and patient/caregiver perspectives to further improve health outcomes, patient and provider experience, and value for Northumberland residents. Based on current understanding of health care needs within the community, the target population served would initially include rural residents who face barriers to accessing health care, including those experiencing isolation, homelessness, addiction, and mental health concerns, as well as those with palliative needs and limited mobility. The population served, as well as the scope of services provided, would expand over time.

The first OHTs are expected to be announced in the fall of 2019, with the province continuing to accept applications and evaluate interested groups over time. It is expected that all communities will ultimately adopt the Ontario Health Team model.
Background information about OHTs is available from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care .

Quotes

"I would like to congratulate the Northumberland Collaborative Planning Committee Members on their hard work to-date towards the goal of establishing an Ontario Health Team. This Ontario Health Team model will build upon the already strong existing collaborative partnerships in Northumberland. The residents of our riding deserve a connected health care system that puts their needs first and they also deserve a health care system that is sustainable and accessible for all." David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament, Northumberland-Peterborough South

“I have been a moderate-to-heavy user of the healthcare system in Ontario since I was a boy in the 1950’s in Toronto. Where in the first half of my life I experienced healthcare in a large urban setting, the latter half has been in the small-town rural setting of Northumberland County. While in Northumberland, I have experienced how collaborative and effective local care providers have been in responding to the community’s complexities and uniqueness. I am honoured to be part of developing this submission.” Scott Macpherson, Patient Representative

“Strengthening the patient and caregiver voice and choice with the treatment team is critical for meaningful innovative, integrated system redesign. By increasing the overall involvement of patients and caregivers, care planning can be specific to the strengths, preferences, and cultures of individuals. I am pleased to be actively contributing to this submission.” Kaye Jackson, Caregiver Representative

“As primary care providers, we see a significant opportunity within our health care system to better coordinate care through an Ontario Health Team, delivering added value to patients by improving access and facilitating transitions throughout the entire health care journey.” Dr. Fraser Cameron, Primary Care Physician, Ganaraska Family Health Organization and Dr. Erin Pepper, Primary Care Physician, Northumberland Family Health Team.

“As a First Nation community, addressing the local health needs and accessing health services are key. Through meaningful, positive partnerships and collaboration through the OHT we will be able to achieve more and better health outcomes for our members.” Malcolm Ponnayan, Director of Health & Social Services, Alderville First Nation

“Through this collaborative effort, health system stakeholders continue to demonstrate a shared commitment to prioritizing patient needs in order to cultivate a healthy Northumberland. Campbellford Memorial Hospital welcomes the ongoing dialogue about opportunities to further coordinate services with partners in rural areas of Northumberland – as well as our referral partners outside of the community – in support of the government’s vision for a better connected, people-centered health care system.” Varouj Eskedjian, President & CEO, Campbellford Memorial Hospital

“Partnerships and exploring new models for collaboration are cornerstones of Community Care Northumberland’s approach to delivering client-centered care. CCN welcomes the opportunity to work with local agencies to identify innovative ways of improving client transitions across the health care environment. We are pleased to be supporting this submission.” Trish Baird, Executive Director, Community Care Northumberland

“The Community Health Centres of Northumberland are focused on building trusting relationships with patients in order to deliver improved care. The possibility of forming a local Ontario Health Team represents an opportunity for Northumberland stakeholders to further strengthen our common understanding of the community’s health care needs, reducing barriers and improving health outcomes for local residents.” Duff Sprague, Executive Director, Community Health Centres of Northumberland

“As a provider of long-term care, paramedic and social services, Northumberland County welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with community partners on the 4 formation of a local Ontario Health Team, as an extension of our commitment to the delivery of industry-leading, quality care and value for Northumberland residents.” Jennifer Moore, CAO, Northumberland County

“This submission to form a local Ontario Health Team is well-aligned with the Northumberland Family Health Team mandate to improve the health status of the population by delivering seamless and sustainable access to care in our community. We look forward to next steps.” Laurel Savoy, Executive Director, Northumberland Family Health Team

“For Northumberland Hills Hospital, collaborative community partnerships have proven to be key enablers behind our ability to deliver high quality care close to home. As the process to form a local Ontario Health Team evolves, we look forward to building upon these partnerships to create a more cohesive model for a team that is better organized around local patients' needs.” Linda Davis, President & CEO, Northumberland Hills Hospital

“Local health care constituents are in the best position to identify and respond to local health care needs. The Bridge Hospice appreciates the opportunity to contribute to plans for a local Ontario Health Team, to support the ongoing delivery of exceptional service and support for Northumberland residents across the full continuum of care - from pre-natal and birth through to end-of-life.” Kerri-Anne Wilson, Director of Clinical Services & Operations, The Bridge Hospice

“As an integrated team of professionals providing comprehensive health care to the community, the Trent Hills Family Health Team recognizes the potential of engaging with community partners through a local Ontario Health Team to intensify policies and practices that will foster a vibrant and healthy rural community.” Delayne Donald, Executive Director, Trent Hills Family Health Team

ohtn

Seniors and Caregiver Fair - Wednesday, November 4

Event Details

Connect With Local Supports

Rebound Child & Youth Services: Kilometers 4 Kids - Saturday, October 17

Event Details

Move for Mental Health

Trent Hills Seniors Day - Wednesday, October 7

Event Details

What to Expect

Ed’s House & Community Care Northumberland Hike, Bike & Bark for Hospice - Sunday, September 27

Event Details

Community Care Northumberland Volunteer Fair - Saturday September 26

Event Details

What to Expect

Upcoming Identification and Wellness Clinics improving access to essential services

Need to replace your ID or connect with essential services?

Caregiver Speaker and Social Hour Series

Media Interviews:

﻿

Help Shape the Future of Health Care in Northumberland

Why Your Feedback Matters

Take the Survey

Northumberland celebrates major milestones in improving access to Primary Care

OHT-N Releases 2025–2026 Annual Report

WrapAround for Older Adults Expands Support in Northumberland

Webinar: Navigating Senior Care in Northumberland: Understanding retirement living, long-term care and home supports

Come Together Northumberland Brings Community, Organizations, and Residents Together in Cobourg

Primary Care Expansion Announcement in Northumberland County

Building Resilience and Supporting Wellness: The Impact of the RISE Program

Supporting Youth, Strengthening Community: The Impact of the Youth Wellness Hub Ontario - Northumberland

OHT-N and HSJCC have partnered to present a community event: Come Together Northumberland

Come Together Northumberland

Media Contact:

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland Welcomes New Executive Lead

Vital Signs: February 2026

In this issue:

SCALE Together: An In-Person Mental Health and Wellbeing Program for Caregivers in Northumberland

SCALE Together: Nurturing Mental Health & Wellness for Caregivers

Pilot of Northumberland County’s first Essential Care Partner Program now available at Northumberland Hills Hospital

Media contacts:

Micol Marotti

Tegan Roberts

Lung Cancer Screening

Screening for Lung Cancer ﻿

Getting screened in Northumberland

Who should be screened?

How often should you be screened?

How Screening Works

Know the symptoms

Take Action

OHT-N and Community Health Centres of Northumberland partner to host Women’s Health Event

OHT-N and Community Health Centres of Northumberland partner to host Women’s Health Event

﻿

OHT-N launches new website to improve healthcare system navigation for Northumberland County residents

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland launches new website to improve healthcare system navigation for Northumberland County residents

Media contacts:

Andrea Groff

Jennifer Gillard

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Screening for Colorectal Cancer

Accessing testing in Northumberland

When to get screened

Types of screening

Fecal Immunochemical Test

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

Colonoscopy

Helpful Resources

Helpful Websites:

Information source

Cervical Cancer Screening

Screening for Cervical Cancer

Accessing screening in Northumberland

When to get screened

About screening: Cervical Cancer Screening

About the Ontario Cervical Screening Program

Helpful Resources

Helpful websites:

Information source

Breast Cancer Screening

Screening for Lung Cancer

OHT-N set to host series of Preventative Care Fairs throughout Northumberland County