Written By Olena Riznyk
LUCAN – A new nurse-led health clinic officially launched May 12 at the Lucan Library as part of a Middlesex-London Health Unit program aimed at improving access to healthcare services in smaller Middlesex County communities.
The Lucan clinic is one of three rotating locations that will also operate in Strathroy and Dorchester. Services include immunizations for children and youth, STI testing, emergency contraception, birth control counselling and sexual health education.
The launch comes after the closure of the Middlesex-London Health Unit office in Strathroy last year, which left many rural residents travelling farther for some public health services.
Dr. Alex Summers, Medical Officer of Health for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, said the clinics are intended to make healthcare more accessible for people living outside larger urban centres. “We focused on towns in the county that were somewhat larger and also represented different geographical quadrants within the county,” Summers said. “Strathroy to the west, Lucan in the north and Dorchester to the east.”
Summers said the health unit hopes the clinics become a long-term service, although demand will continue to be monitored over the coming months. Early pilot clinics held this spring saw about 55 people use the services, including about 12 sexual health clinic visits. “We know that we have to be established as a regular presence in order to have people recognize that they can come utilize our services,” he said.
Lucan Mayor Cathy Burghardt-Jesson said transportation remains a major challenge for many rural residents trying to access healthcare outside their communities. “Sometimes the timing of transportation isn’t appropriate for families to be able to access healthcare services that they might find in a larger urban centre,” Burghardt-Jesson said. “Transportation is a huge challenge.”
She added that many residents–especially newcomers and people without family doctors–continue to struggle to access basic healthcare services locally. “Being able to access public health in our community on a regular basis is very, very important,” she said.
Privacy was also discussed during the launch, particularly because some residents may feel uncomfortable seeking sensitive healthcare services in smaller communities where many people know each other. Summers said the clinics are designed to provide confidential spaces for patients seeking care. “We’re making sure that we have a confidential private space for people,” he said.
Summers also noted that vaccine-preventable illnesses, including measles, have reappeared in Ontario in recent years, making access to immunization services increasingly important for families.
“This is one more tool in the toolbox that makes healthcare accessible to everybody,” Burghardt-Jesson said.
