The new Peterborough Community Health Centre will operate out of a temporary location in Peterborough Square for 12 months while it searches for a permanent location – a vacant space previously occupied by TD Canada Trust TD on George Street, just south of Simcoe Street. The centre aims to open its doors to clients as early as fall 2024. (Photo: Peterborough Square / Facebook)
The new Peterborough Community Health Centre (PCHC) will open in a temporary location in Peterborough Square and is expected to start accepting patients “as soon as possible”, which could be as soon as this autumn.
PCHC announced it will operate a new health clinic for the first 12 months at 360 George Street in downtown Peterborough, a space formerly owned by TD Canada Trust just south of Simcoe Street.
“We're very excited about the potential impact (PCHC) will have in its first year at Peterborough Square,” PCHC interim co-executive director David Jeffery told kawarthaNOW.
Advertisement – Content continues below
We aim to provide not only medical care but also mental health support, traditional healing and community wellness programs.
David Jeffrey
Peterborough Community Health Centre
Tweet this quote
“Our primary goal is to establish a strong foundation for providing high-quality, accessible health care to the local community,” Jeffrey said of the next 12 months. “Being well integrated into the community and building strong partnerships with local organizations is our top priority.”
“We aim to provide not only medical care but also mental health support, traditional healing practices and community wellness programs. In doing so, we hope to foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels understood, listened to and cared for.”
Jeffrey said the first priority is to hire a team of committed medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, traditional healers and allied health professionals.
Advertisement – Content continues below
Our goal is to start seeing clients as early as this fall and demonstrate the positive support that integrated interprofessional care can bring to people's lives.
David Jeffrey
Peterborough Community Health Centre
Tweet this quote
“Our goal is to see patients as soon as this fall and demonstrate the positive support that integrated, interdisciplinary care can bring to people's lives,” Jeffrey said. “The ultimate goal for this first year is to lay a strong foundation that can sustain PCHC's mission for years to come.”
The move comes after the provincial government announced in February 2024 that it would provide approximately $4.8 million in annual funding to PCHC. PCHC provides comprehensive primary care and allied health services.
“Opening the clinic quickly to meet the community's needs is a top priority,” PCHC Board Chair Jonathan Bennett said in a media release.
“Our aim is to open as soon as possible,” Mr Bennett said, “and we chose Peterborough Square because it can be quickly converted into a suitable clinical space and allow us to see patients sooner.”
Advertisement – Content continues below
PCHC is scheduled to open in the autumn and aims to bring up to 30 new health jobs to the region, including dedicated allied health professionals such as doctors, nurses, traditional healers, nutritionists, physiotherapists, mental health counsellors and Indigenous knowledge keepers, “all working together to provide multidisciplinary team-based care in one place.”
PCHC will also provide free community programs to support residents' physical, mental and spiritual health, the release said.
The group is searching for an interim location for its medical clinic after its 12-month lease at Peterborough Square comes to an end.
“We're going to take our time to select an interim space that can truly meet our growth and scale needs over the next few years,” Bennett said.
Planning for a permanent location for PCHC is still in the early stages.
