Primary Care Access Clinic Opens in Paris

From left: Tina Gabriel, Roxanne Pierssens-Silva and Lynda Kohler, the three executive directors behind the new Primary Care Access Clinic model serving Brantford, Brant and Norfolk. The collaborative program expands access to primary care for residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

A new Primary Care Access Clinic opened in Paris on Nov. 10, marking the latest step in a regional effort to help residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner receive timely, team-based care. The Brantford site launched one week earlier on Nov. 3, while the Simcoe clinic, on which the entire model is based, has already been operating successfully for six months.

The three clinics, developed through the Brantford, Brant, Norfolk Ontario Health Team (BBNOHT), are operated collaboratively by PrimaCare Community Family Health Team, Norfolk Family Health Team and the Grand River Community Health Centre. Together, the organizations are working to better serve the estimated 20,000 people in the region who are currently unattached to primary care.

“What makes this clinic unique is that it isn’t just a temporary stopgap,” said Tina Gabriel, Executive Director of PrimaCare Community Family Health Team. “It’s an access point designed to bridge the gap while people wait to be attached to a long-term provider. We are here to keep people connected, supported and cared for.”

The Paris and Brantford sites are expanding on the early success of the Simcoe clinic, which has demonstrated strong demand and effective outcomes since launching earlier this year. That foundation helped justify BBNOHT’s request for funding to bring the model to additional communities across the region.

“This is not just about getting a one-time appointment,” said Roxanne Pierssens-Silva, Executive Director of the Norfolk Family Health Team. “It’s about helping people navigate the healthcare system and connecting them to the right kind of support. The most comprehensive primary care is team-based care.”

Unlike traditional walk-in clinics, the Primary Care Access Clinic offers pre-booked appointments for non-emergency health concerns. Patients can be seen for acute issues, but the clinic also provides chronic disease management, prescription renewals, preventative screenings and guided support to navigate local health resources.

Staffing at each site includes a nurse practitioner, registered nurse and medical office assistant. Patients may also be linked with midwifery care, social workers or specialist referrals depending on their needs.

“This access clinic is a great example of how local organizations can come together to provide a service that any one of us could not provide on our own,” said Lynda Kohler, Executive Director of the Grand River Community Health Centre. “We are thrilled to be able to extend our reach and help as many residents as possible.”

The access clinic network is currently operating with short-term funding, but BBNOHT and the region’s Primary Care Network are actively seeking long-term support to make the initiative permanent.

“At this point the clinic is temporary,” Gabriel said. “But we are actively seeking ongoing funding so it can continue while we work to connect every person to a long-term provider.”

Patients are also encouraged to register with Health Care Connect to help facilitate attachment to a permanent provider.

Anyone in Brantford, Brant or Norfolk who does not have a primary care provider is eligible to use the clinic. The service is not for emergencies.

Clinic locations and appointment details can be found at bbnoht.ca.

Primary Care Access Clinic Locations:

Paris: 25 Curtis Ave. N., 2nd Floor – Suite 201

Simcoe: 363 Colborne St. Brantford

Brantford: 185 Robinson St. Simcoe