Improved health care access in Saugeen First Nation

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A new Indigenous Primary Health Team could mean fewer long waits at an emergency department for Saugeen First Nation residents.

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Saugeen Saugeen First Nation announced it has provincial approval to create an Indigenous Primary Health Team. 

“This is a remarkable announcement, and one that will better meet the needs of our community members,” Chief Conrad Ritchie said in a statement.  

“Following a province-wide call for expressions of interest, and for our community to have been selected, this speaks to our collaborative relationship with all levels of government in the pursuit of self-determination.” 

Interprofessional primary care teams provide direct care and connect people to other healthcare outlets without having to visit an ER. 

The Ministry of Health put out a request for Expressions of Interest for interprofessional primary care teams that would, among others things: increase access for unattached patients, provide care to equity deserving populations with a focus on reaching those with poorer health outcomes, and use digital health to provide Ontarians with a choice in how they interact with the healthcare system. 

“There are continued and reported incidents of community members experiencing systemic racism in the health care system and this announcement will provide community members with the opportunity to experience a culturally-safe and trauma-informed experience,” said Saugeen First Nation Coun. Audra Roost, co-chair of the health portfolio.. 

SFN applied for the primary care team in Fall of 2023.
There was no timeline for when the Indigenous Primary Health Team will begin seeing patients.