The Moose Deer Point First Nation south of Parry Sound is getting a brand new health centre.
It's great news for the people of that community, and for people who live or have cottages nearby.
It’s a new state-of-the-art health care centre for the community of 250 people.
Larry Hendrick, 77, has lived on the reserve for the past four decades and has always had to travel for medical help.
“It's probably about 45 minutes to Parry Sound,” he says. “And you have to make an appointment. And you sometimes have to wait a month to see your doctor.”
The new facility replaces an old and outdated one. The new facility is not only bigger but it has a lot more to it. It features a video link to doctors all over the province.
“We have a new OTN (Ontario Telemedicine Network) room where people can sit and see a specialist as opposed to driving to Toronto or North Bay,” says nurse practitioner Connie Foster. “It is excellent because transport is a key to patients. It is a barrier to good health care.”
Foster says the new centre will be able to take on more patients. Even people with a family doctor can come here. Summers will be even busier as it takes on cottagers and tourists.
Dr. Laurie Wells has a practise in Midland. She will be on-site one day every week. She says having so many treatments available under the same roof will help many people get the treatment they need.
The new health centre will officially open its doors to the community on Wednesday. After two years and $1 million, it's just what the doctor ordered for the area.
