On January 30, 2012 the Ontario government announced its Action Plan aimed at transforming the health care system, address the demographic challenges in the province, and manage the deficit.
Specifically, the Action Plan for Health Care in Ontario will:
- Make the necessary and responsible decisions regarding funding priorities and ensure funding is shifted to areas of best value
- Provide new measures to prevent illness and help Ontarians stay healthy
- Give Ontarians better access to family doctors and nurse practitioners through after-hours care, same-day, and next-day appointments that will save Ontarians time, keep them healthier, and help them avoid trips to hospital
- Support Ontario’s seniors who want to live independently at home, in their communities, by providing more home care supports
The Ontario government will be bringing the planning for family health care under the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). This will help to ensure that patients have a more seamless experience in the local health care system from their family doctor to hospitals and will improve the quality of care that seniors receive at home.
The government will also investigate moving more routine procedures into specialized not-for-profit clinics where it is obvious that these clinics can provide patients with safe, high-quality care at better value.
For more information go to www.health.gov.on.ca.