By Angie Sullivan
A new walk-in clinic had its grand opening at Bens Pharmacy in Pefferlaw on Thursday, July 31, helping address some of the gaps in access to primary care for Georgina residents.
The Georgina Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (GNPLC) has walk-in hours every Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
John Holbrook, clinic director with the GNPLC, said, “When we looked at Georgina, it was clear Pefferlaw had one of the biggest gaps.”
Holbrook is also a nurse practitioner and will be working at the new clinic.
“Right now, we’re providing general health care for acute, episodic conditions. That could be anything from a sore throat or urinary tract infection to a rash, medication renewal, or high blood pressure,” said Holbrook. “We’d much rather people come here than visit the emergency department for those kinds of issues.”
In a report released this spring, Southlake Health’s Care for All: A Population Health Assessment for Residents in Georgina found, “Approximately 4,107 residents (7.6%) remain unattached. Overall capacity is a community strength; however, access remains uneven.”
Most primary care providers are concentrated in Keswick, leaving fewer local options in Sutton, Jackson’s Point, Pefferlaw and other rural communities.
Holbrook said, “Pefferlaw is really a health-care desert, and that’s why I advocated for bringing primary care here. After discussions with the Ministry of Health, we were awarded funding to open this clinic.”
Pefferlaw resident Diane Jegins, one of the clinic’s first patients, said she believes the clinic will make a real difference.
“It’s wonderful. I think this is what we need,” said Jegins. “Maybe it’ll bring new people to Pefferlaw, encourage more housing, and help more people move into the area.”
The walk-in clinic is intended to be the first step in a broader plan for local health care.
“Come October, we’ll transition from operating as a walk-in clinic to becoming a primary care office,” said Holbrook. “Patients will be able to roster with one of our nurse practitioners and receive their ongoing care from a single provider.”
Residents seeking non-emergency medical care can visit the clinic during walk-in hours.
The clinic is located at 319 Pefferlaw Road (across from the LCBO), and all services are government-funded and free of charge.
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