From hiring nurse practitioners to extend its hours to providing some mental health supports, the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic has received a dose of the best medicine in the form of more funding thanks to the local community.
The Municipality of Port Hope announced Wednesday (July 16) that a recent 10-day fundraising drive to support the Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic was a big success, generating a total of $189,280.42, including a matching donation from the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation.
Through a campaign spearheaded by Port Hope mayor Olena Hankivsky, with support from councillors Les Andrews and Adam Pearson, and launched in partnership with the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation, the call issued in late June asked for the community to help support the ongoing operation of the clinic at 99 Toronto Road in Port Hope.
“This incredible result reflects the strong spirit of collaboration and care in our community,” Hankivsky said in a statement. “It has truly been a grassroots effort, from the (Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation) to the many volunteers, donors, and local businesses who stepped forward to contribute.”
The mayor gave a shout-out to summer student Daniel Diamond and municipal staff for their assistance. “I express my heartfelt appreciation to all those in Port Hope and Cobourg who rallied behind this important cause.”
The money raised will allow for the hiring of nurse practitioners to increase the hours and days the clinic is open. The clinic will also be introducing some mental health supports and services in the coming months, according to a media release.
The campaign received “outstanding support” from local businesses and organizations, including contributions of $10,000 each from Trade Tech Industries, Dancing Bee Equipment, Santos Auto Group, Mason Homes, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and partners, Ontario Power Generation, and Enbridge.
Community-driven events in Northumberland County such as book sales, donation boxes at storefronts, and a successful charity car wash organized by the Port Hope Police Service and Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services, helped raised money for the cause. The campaign was also supported by a donation from Show and Shine for Spencer Devine, which will enable the mental health awareness and services at the clinic.
“The clinic provides timely access to care, fills gaps in access to primary care, leads to the avoidance of unnecessary emergency room visits, and plays an integral role in the local health care infrastructure,” Hankivsky said.
Matthew Clayton, president of the Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation, shared his thoughts about the community response to the campaign.
“A couple of months ago, when we were discussing this proposal, we wondered whether we would get a response,” Clayton said. “What has happened since then has rendered me almost speechless. This is a shining light for our foundation: a community that comes together and watches each other’s back.”
The Port Hope & District Healthcare Foundation will manage the matched funds “to ensure they are directed to clinic operations that support sustainable, long-term access to care,” the release stated.
The Port Hope Medical Walk-in Clinic opened in August 2024 as a one-year pilot project of Northumberland County, delivered in partnership with the Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN).
Glenn Dees, Northumberland County’s director of health and human services, recently shared with kawarthaNOW a few insights into the clinic’s use.
Dees said people are visiting the clinic for ailments such as fever and systemic infections, respiratory issues, injury issues, and skin allergies, which he called “the typical things people would go to see their primary care provider for, for the most part, if they have a primary care provider.”
“That’s really the intent of the clinic: to provide primary care services to those individuals who are not attached to a doctor,” he added.
For almost 20 years, a medical walk-in clinic was available to the community at 99 Toronto Road until it closed in 2020, which prompted the county to get involved.
