September 9, 2026
Peterborough Region Clears Priority Health Care Connect Waitlist, Connecting 9,473 Residents to Primary Care
Health system partners help clear patients on Health Care Connect list before January 1, 2025, marking significant progress in improving access to primary care across Peterborough City and County.
PETERBOROUGH, ON – September 9, 2026 – Peterborough Ontario Health Team (POHT), in partnership with local primary care professionals and health system partners, has reached an important milestone in improving access to primary care across Peterborough City and County. As a result of a coordinated community-wide initiative, all 9,473 residents who were on the provincial Health Care Connect waitlist before January 1, 2025, have now been successfully cleared from the waitlist.
Through coordinated efforts involving Peterborough Family Health Team, Peterborough Community Health Centre, Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, Victorian Order of Nurses Nurse Practitioner Clinic in Keene, community family doctors, nurse practitioners, interprofessional health care providers, and Health Care Connect Care Connectors, Peterborough has made significant progress toward Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan goal of connecting every resident to a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team by 2029.
A Major Step Toward Care Close to Home
“Connecting more residents with primary care takes coordination across our entire Peterborough Ontario Health Team community. This milestone reflects the strength of our community, with family doctors, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals, local primary care organizations, and other health system partners coming together to improve access to care across Peterborough City and County.” Connor Kemp, Executive Transformation Lead, Peterborough Ontario Health Team
Having an ongoing relationship with a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team improves access to preventive care, chronic disease management, and timely treatment, while reducing pressure on emergency departments.
In 2025, Ontario Health Teams and local primary care partners responded to Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan by focusing on connecting residents who had been waiting the longest for a family doctor or nurse practitioner through Health Care Connect, with some having waited more than four years.
This achievement reflects sustained collaboration among local health system partners to ensure residents receive care as close to home as possible. Alongside this work, local organizations have received provincial support to expand primary care teams, helping more residents access comprehensive, team-based primary care.
A Coordinated Local Effort
“Connecting thousands of residents to primary care across Peterborough City and County is a monumental achievement for our region. This success demonstrates what is possible when our provincial government works alongside dedicated local health partners, family doctors, and nurse practitioners. Reaching this milestone brings us one step closer to ensuring that every family in Peterborough-Kawartha has access to high-quality care close to home.” Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough—Kawartha
Reaching this milestone required close collaboration between POHT, family doctors, nurse practitioners, local primary care organizations, Ontario Health atHome Health Care Connect Care Connectors, and other health system partners.
While POHT does not directly deliver patient care, it brings health system partners together to improve how care is planned, coordinated, and delivered across Peterborough City and County. By working with local organizations and using community health data to identify priorities, POHT helps support collaborative solutions that improve access to care.
This collaborative work included the local efforts of Peterborough Family Health Team’s Connect Clinic, Peterborough Community Health Centre, Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, Victoria Order of Nurses Nurse Practitioner Clinic in Keene, community family doctors, nurse practitioners, and interprofessional healthcare providers.
Together, these coordinated efforts helped connect thousands of Peterborough residents with a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or primary care team closer to home.
“This milestone represents thousands of people in our community who have been waiting for primary care. We’re proud of the role the Connect Clinic and Peterborough Family Health Team have played in this collective effort.” Duff Sprague, Chief Executive Officer, Peterborough Family Health Team
Ontario’s Broader Primary Care Plan
Peterborough’s progress contributes to Ontario’s broader goal of connecting every person in the province to ongoing primary care by 2029.
Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan includes several strategies to help more people connect with primary care, including expanding team-based primary care, clearing the January 1, 2025 Health Care Connect waitlist, strengthening the primary care workforce, and improving how patients are connected with available care.
Quotes from Other Health System Partners
“Improving access to primary care requires strong collaboration, shared commitment, and a focus on the diverse needs of our community. We’re proud to work alongside our local partners to help more residents connect with ongoing, team-based care, and we look forward to building on this progress together.” Ashley Safar, Executive Director, Peterborough Community Health Centre
“Nurse practitioner-led care is an important part of our local primary care system. At the 360 NPLC, we’re proud to provide accessible, team-based care that builds lasting relationships with patients and responds to the unique needs of our community. We’re pleased to work alongside our partners to help more residents connect with the ongoing primary care they need." Danielle Howson, Nurse Practitioner Lead / Executive Director, Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
“Improving access to needed primary health care requires our local system to work together. This achievement reflects the shared commitment of family doctors, nurse practitioners and primary care organizations to connecting more of Peterborough's residents with ongoing care.” Dr. Kathleen Flynn, Primary Care Network Lead, Peterborough Ontario Health Team
Still Looking for a Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner?
Peterborough City and County residents who do not currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner should continue to register with Health Care Connect. This provincial program can help you connect with a local family doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting patients. You can still register even if you already have a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Residents can register with Health Care Connect by:
- Registering online at ontario.ca/healthcareconnect
- Or call 8-1-1 / TTY: 711 (Health 811)
Residents who do not currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner can access care at Peterborough Family Health Team’s Connect Clinic. Intake appointments can be booked online or by calling 705-651-4866.
Residents looking for information about Health Care Connect or local health care options, if you don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, can also visit Peterborough Ontario Health Team’s website.
For emergencies, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department.
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About Peterborough Ontario Health Team
Peterborough Ontario Health Team (POHT), made up of over 30 local partners, brings together health care organizations, professionals, patients, caregivers, community partners, and community members to improve how services are planned, coordinated, and delivered across Peterborough City and County. By working together, POHT is helping create a more connected health system that improves access to care, strengthens collaboration, and supports better experiences and outcomes for patients, families, caregivers, and the community.
Media Contacts
Preyanka Sivacheliyan
Communications and Community Engagement Specialist
Peterborough Ontario Health Team
psivacheliyan@poht.ca
www.poht.ca
Sally Carson
Executive Assistant
Office of M.P.P. Dave Smith
