Health clinic opens in Holyrood

After many months of dreaming and planning, the community of Holyrood and the Holyrood board of directors are pleased to announce the opening of the Holyrood Health Clinic located in the old school, Holyrood.

This grassroots initiative is likely the first of its kind in Ontario. Funded by the community and by individual patients, this clinic is geared for non-OHIP users who traditionally have to travel well outside their community and pay varying fees (mostly significantly higher than OHIP fees) for basic primary care.

Starting slowly, the board has hired Rebekah Peters, a Nurse Practitioner, to see patients on Thursday mornings. At the moment, the clinic is geared to provide walk‐in and booked appointments for episodic health care. As it grows, the hope is that the clinic will develop into a full‐service primary care site for care from cradle to grave.

The clinic is also starting to see non-OHIP users in the surrounding communities, including St. Helen's and Tiverton.

It is certainly a challenge to provide modern health care to communities striving to preserve autonomy over their “plain” way of life! Bear with the organizers as they navigate a respectful but medically safe way of communication (appointments, referrals, etc.).

Those who currently serve these communities are encouraged to collaborate with the clinic to provide more seamless, accessible, affordable and comprehensive health care that respects the traditionalism and family‐centered way of life in these communities. Feedback, referrals and collaboration welcome.

Everyone is welcome to stop by and see the clinic on Thursday mornings! If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact the clinic by fax at 519-395-0533. Clinic administrators are Levi and Betty Martin. Nurse practitioner Rebekah Peters can be reached by cell phone at 204-990-4134. The address of the clinic is General Delivery, Holyrood, Ontario, N0G 2B0.