The doctor is finally in — and for thousands of Barrie residents, that could mean an end to the long wait for primary care.
Residents without a family doctor may soon have improved access to primary care, as several new physicians are now accepting patients.
According to a media release from the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT), residents seeking a family doctor or nurse practitioner are encouraged to register by completing an online form on the BAOHT website or by calling 811.
BAOHT co-chair Dr. Chibuike Chizea said thousands of people have already been removed from the wait list this year.
“With several physicians recently joining practices in Barrie, many are actively accepting patients through Health Care Connect. In fact, we’ve already cleared thousands of people from the wait list this year,” he said.
The update marks significant progress for a city that has faced persistent challenges with access to primary care. News reports in 2023 estimated that more than 40,000 Barrie and area residents were without a family physician, forcing many to rely on hospital emergency departments and walk-in clinics.
Coun. Ann-Marie Kungl shared the update during the Jan. 28 city council meeting and urged residents without primary care to register as soon as possible.
“If you do not have access to primary care, a physician or nurse practitioner, call 811 or go online to health 811 with your health card,” she said.
“They are actively registering people. Get on the list and we are seeing over 2500 individuals have been successfully matched and we have room for more.”
Mayor Alex Nuttall told Compass News he welcomed the announcement and praised the organizations involved in recruiting physicians to the city.
“This is huge – this is such good news for our city,” he said.
“All of the good folks who have worked together at RVH (Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre), entities like the physician recruitment task force and all the people who worked so hard to bring more physicians to Barrie, I want to say thank you.”
For residents who have struggled for years to find care, the news offers renewed hope.
Barrie resident Kris Brand said he has been searching for a family doctor for more than a decade.
“I think this is a good step, and I’m hoping it will finally help me get a family doctor,” he said.
“I’ve been trying for over 10 years, so it would be a huge relief to have a doctor when I actually need one.”
Courtney Henderson, who currently has a family doctor in Midland, said the expansion of local primary care will benefit many Barrie families she knows who are still searching.
“This will be a major benefit for families around the area who need health care,” she said.
“Instead of waiting hours at a hospital, they’ll be able to see a family doctor. That’s really great news.”
According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians, approximately 2.5 million people across Ontario currently do not have access to a family physician.
