Click here to read AFHTO’s overall response to the ministry’s Patients First: A Proposal to Strengthen Patient-Centred Health Care in Ontario discussion paper, approved by the AFHTO board and submitted on March 3^rd, 2016. An initial response was issued with a statement from Dr. Sean Blaine, AFHTO President and Clinical Lead, STAR Family Health Team in Stratford. This was published in various newspapers including The Kingston Whig-Standard, Woodstock Sentinel Review and Beacon Herald.

Response is grounded in feedback from members

In early January, AFHTO hosted 14 web meetings for FHT and NPLC leaders in each of the LHIN regions, resulting in priority action items. Member input was further requested on the question of accountability and contractual relationships, summary of results available. These provided the basis for AFHTO’s response.

A unified response for primary care

AFHTO chaired work by the Ontario Primary Care Council (OPCC) to develop a joint response to the Minister on the Province’s plans to strengthen our health care system. The six associations of the OPCC provided initial feedback in a letter to Minister Eric Hoskins on January 25, 2016. Finalized at its March 9 meeting, the joint response was submitted on March 24. It offered advice on the following key areas:

• Ministry stewardship and LHIN mandate
• Access to interprofessional health providers and access to teams
• Embedding care co-ordination in primary care and the next steps to support implementation
• The interface between primary care, mental health and addictions
• Clinical leadership
• Governance, performance and accountability
• Critical enabler: data and information management

This work has been greatly informed by AFHTO’s consultation with members.

What’s happening in each region?

AFHTO members are meeting with their LHINs and working together to strengthen the primary care voice within the LHIN. See below for resources to further support this engagement: