The urgent care clinic in Minden has assisted more than 7,000 patients over the past 12 months, with Marina Hodson – executive director of its operator, the Kawartha North Family Health Team (KNFHT) – saying that’s helped relieve pressure at the Haliburton emergency department.
The facility opened June 30, 2023, a month after Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) shuttered the Minden ER.
During its first operational year, to March 31, 2024, the clinic treated 4,479 people. Hodson said those numbers are up this fiscal year, between April 1, 2024 and March 13, staff at the clinic assisted 7,041 patients.
“Just being able to see as many people as we are,” Hodson said, when asked what she was most proud of as the clinic approaches its second anniversary. “The biggest win is just seeing the number of people we’re diverting from the emergency department.”
Operating full-time seven days a week, the facility is open for walk-ins for same-day, urgent, non-emergency health care from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, closing on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
That’s to support a new appointment-based system the clinic introduced following the Christmas holidays, Hodson said.
Patients can call ahead to schedule times for things like refilling prescriptions.
“We don’t want people who are needing a renewal to have to sit in the ER for hours with people who are sick, might have the flu, and have the possibility of catching and spreading something,” Hodson said. “We’re really happy with how that’s going.”
She said the change, while controversial when announced, has been well received.
Returning to head up KNFHT earlier this year after about eight months away, Hodson said she plans to stick around to help stabilize the clinic. She’s been in constant contact with HHHS CEO Veronica Nelson, saying the two “work really closely to make sure this clinic runs smoothly.”
Hodson said the recent addition of gynecology services in Minden were “a collaborative effort.”
With HHHS recently announcing plans to move its Haliburton long-term care beds to Minden, seeking around $49 million in provincial funding to add 98-beds to the 62 already in place at Hyland Crest, Hodson said she was supportive of the proposal.
“It’s a good opportunity for greater access to care. If they’re expanding long-term care, hopefully there will be an opportunity to work together to ensure those residents have the opportunity to receive the care and services they need,” she said.
Hodson said KNFHT is lobbying Ontario Health for extra money, with the organization seeking to solidify services in Minden.
Asked about any plans to expand or introduce new features, Hodson said, “I think that’s a question of funding. We would need increased funding. We’re always looking to increase service delivery, always asking the government to recognize how under-serviced rural communities are, especially Haliburton.
“Want to improve what we’re doing, but those things always come with a price.”
The clinic largely sees people without a family doctor, with the Ministry informing The Highlander in December there are 3,080 people from the County and Kawartha Lakes on a waitlist with Health Care Connect.
Hodson said, “we have no intention of ever ending the clinic,” though noting its operations are dependent on ministry funding. She did not disclose annual running costs, nor how much KNFHT gets, though noted expenses have been, “more than we anticipated, which is one of the serious challenges we face.”
The clinic was shuttered 14 times in 2024, and was closed March 17, with Hodson saying finding people to cover full-time staff who are sick or on holidays remains a challenge.
There has to be a registered practical nurse, nurse practitioner, and reception staff for the facility to open.
“It’s really difficult to find a nurse practitioner who’s just sitting at home waiting for somebody to take vacation so they can pick up a shift – all of our parttimers have full-time jobs elsewhere,” Hodson said. “It’s a tough problem to solve… we have far more replacements available on the weekends than we do to cover weekday shifts. It’s a problem a lot of facilities like this face.”
She said talks will ramp up with ministry officials again this week, with premier Doug Ford announcing his new cabinet March 19. Details were not available by press time.
