Peterborough Public Health Provides Tips to Protect Yourself From Cold Weather

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has again activated its Extreme Cold Response Plan (ECRP) for the region and have provided tips to stay warm during the cold temperatures.

A normal body temperature is approximately 37°C; changes of even one or two degrees to a core body temperature can increase a person’s risk of harm. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The ECRP mandates that PPH monitor temperatures and notify residents how to protect themselves when the temperature or wind chill reach temperatures that could cause negative health impacts according to PPH.

When it is activated, alerts will be shared on PPH’s social media, through media outlets, and with partner agencies. 

While extreme cold can put everyone at risk, health risks are greatest for the following individuals: 

• people experiencing homelessness 

• older adults 

• children, especially infants and young children 

• people taking certain medications 

• people with certain health conditions (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, mental illness, mobility limitations) 

• people who live in homes that are poorly insulated, without heat/power 

• people who are active outdoors (e.g., outdoor workers, winter sport enthusiasts)  

Residents are reminded to protect themselves and those in their care from extreme cold by: 

• seeking shelter when the temperatures drop or there is a wind chill 

• always wearing clothing appropriate for the weather 

• dressing in layers, with a wind-resistant outer layer 

• wearing warm socks, hat, gloves, and scarf 

• changing into dry clothing as soon as possible, if you get wet 

• paying attention to weather alerts, including wind chill alerts 

• knowing their own risk factors, such as certain medical conditions  

PPH says most common cold-related injuries are windburn, frostbite and hypothermia, all of which are preventable. They continue to state that there is a higher risk of heart attacks during extreme cold events since a person’s heart rate will increase as the body tries to pump blood faster to maintain warmth. It is also likely to be slippery during cold periods, increasing the risk of falls and injuries because of hazardous conditions. 

The City of Peterborough has extended the hours of Trinity Community Centre, located at 360 Reid St, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (overnight services remain 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.). PPH encourages residents of the County to visit heated public spaces, such as libraries, arenas or warming centres when needed.   

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre Opens Reactivation Care Centre For Patient Restoration

Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has opened a new Reactivation Care Centre, a specialized, acute medical unit dedicated to patient reactivation and restoration, announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the PRHC.

This new patient care space is designed to help patients prepare to return home once they no longer require acute, hospital-level care, said PRHC. The unit will provide dedicated support for identified patients and their families through a time-specified, short-stay admission, helping each patient achieve specific goals that will allow them to safely transition back into the community.

All ages qualify,but the Reactivation Care Centre will care for seniors.

The Reactivation Care Centre’s interprofessional team will help each patient become as independent and active as possible through a custom-designed approach. It will also work with patients and their families to connect them with the appropriate hospital and community partners and support them before they return home.

The interprofessional team on the unit includes:

• Elder Life Specialist

• Nursing

• Occupational Therapy

• Pharmacy

• Physicians

• Physiotherapy

• Recreation Therapy

• Rehabilitation Assistant

• Seniors’ Care Lead

• Social Work

“The Reactivation Care Centre goes beyond just providing a setting for patients to recover from their acute illness,” said Dr. Lynn Mikula, President & CEO at PRHC. “With a time-limited stay based on the individual’s specific needs, each patient will have access to specialized, restorative care to prepare them for a successful discharge from the hospital. The targeted care being offered on this unit will help to address the increasing demands of our growing and aging community in Peterborough.”

The Reactivation Care Centre was possible through the PRHC Foundation and its donors according to a press release.

"It's because of our community's generous support of the $60 million Campaign for PRHC that the Foundation can respond quickly to PRHC's most urgent needs – such as the Reactivation Care Centre – as they arise throughout the year,” said Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “Community donations made it possible to fund $400,000 in vital infrastructure for the reactivation unit, including patient beds, vital signs monitors, and specialized wheelchairs, to help patients return home after hospital care. This is a great example of the power of philanthropy in our community. Thank you, donors.”

“Over the last several years, the government of Ontario has provided a number of critical investments that have allowed PRHC to explore innovative solutions for the growing numbers of patients in the Peterborough region who require hospital care,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This includes $2.9M invested into community partnerships to allow patients who no longer require hospital-level care to be relocated into more appropriate care settings, and more than $600,000 invested into programs offered through the Emergency Department to help patients maintain their independence and prevent unnecessary inpatient stays at the hospital. I am pleased to see the hospital and its partners launch this innovative, hospitalbased care model, and I look forward to hearing more about its successes in the year ahead.”

Key benefits of the new Reactivation Care Centre at PRHC include:

• Specialized care for patients and their families, tailored to the unique needs of each patient.

• Interdisciplinary care excellence: A team that has the right knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide the level of care needed.

• People-centered. Care is focused on what each patient needs to return safely home after their hospital stay. Caregivers are identified, included, and supported as essential care partners and are respected as members of the patient's care team.

• Custom-designed, tech-enabled care space, with a focus on functional enhancement, individualized, patient-centred programming, and supported by technology-enabled care and communication.

• System responsiveness.

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Peterborough Healthcare Providers Offer Tips During Respiratory Illness Season

With respiratory illness season upon us, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC), Peterborough Family Health Team (PFHT) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) are providing healthcare tips to consider before going to the Emergency Department.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

With mounting patient volumes at PRHC, all providers ask patients to assess the urgency of their conditions and consider alternatives to the ED if they do not require emergency care. PPH says to consider your family doctor or nurse practitioner (if you have one), as they may offer same-day appointments.

PFHT-affiliated physicians also offer extended-hour clinics to serve their rostered patients with non-emergent health concerns. Those with a family physician or nurse practitioner are encouraged to call them first and to use the extended hours service if their physician is away. Learn more about the extended hours service.

Those without a primary care provider can view a list of alternative healthcare options. 

PRHC's ED is available 24/7 for patients who need emergency care.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available for anyone over six months. PRHC does not offer these vaccines to members of the community. They may also be available at your local pharmacy. COVID-19 vaccination can be booked through the Provincial Vaccine Booking Centre online or by calling 1-833-943-3900. Eligible residents can receive testing for COVID-19 at participating pharmacies.

Residents are advised to check Peterborough Public Health’s COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Virus Risk Index for guidance on staying safe during holiday gatherings. PPH suggests to consider borrowing a CO2 monitor from your local library to monitor indoor air quality and help prevent the spread of respiratory infections.

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HKPR District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health Moves Forward With Merger

The Boards of Health for Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) are moving forward with a voluntary merger, effective on Jan. 1, announced on Wednesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The merger's goal is to sustain and improve the delivery of public health programs and services across the City of Kawartha Lakes, the County of Haliburton, Northumberland County, Hiawatha First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Alderville First Nation, Peterborough County and the City of Peterborough as stated by PPH.

The merger will be supported through an investment of $10.1 million from the Province of Ontario, which was announced on Monday. The investment will support the merger directly, catch-up activities, and service improvements to strengthen public health in this region.

“This is an important milestone bringing both public health units together to form one new organization,” said David Marshall, Board Chair for the HKPR District Health Unit. “Our dedicated and now combined employees of more than 300 public health professionals will continue to work with our communities, partners and stakeholders to protect and promote health and prevent disease within our combined areas to keep our residents healthy.”

In August last year, the Ministry of Health announced plans to strengthen the public health sector by offering one-time funding, resources and support to local public health agencies that voluntarily merged by Jan. 1.

In response to the announcement, the both organizations say they engaged the consulting firm Sense and Nous to conduct a feasibility study on a potential merger. They voted to move forward with the merger process in February and a voluntary merger proposal and budget was submitted to the Ministry of Health on April 2. The new Board of Health will meet for the first time in the new year. The Ministry of Health has assured the public health unit that the government commits to 100 per cent provincial funding support for this merger with no fiscal impacts to municipalities and First Nations as a result of this merger, and in principle also commit to funding eligible merger expenses in subsequent years according to a press release.

Membership of the new Board of Health will include nine municipal representatives (two from the County of Northumberland, two from the City of Kawartha Lakes, one from the County of Haliburton, two from the County of Peterborough, and two from the City of Peterborough). In addition, the new Board of Health intends to have section 50 representation (one member from Curve Lake First Nation and one from Hiawatha First Nation). The new Board of Health will also include provincial appointees, as outlined in the Health Protection and Promotion Act, and these members are yet to be confirmed.

“Peterborough residents became more familiar with public health’s role and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the health unit in our community has served us for over 135 years with a wide-reaching scope beyond infectious diseases,” said Councillor Joy Lachica, PPH Board Chair. “With our friends at HKPR and the generous funding investment by the province, we will sustain and grow public health services for our residents.”

A new organizational structure and leadership team for the merged public health unit will be announced later. Both current public health units will remain operational, with no immediate impact on programs and services provided to the public says PPH. A new identity and brand will be launched in early 2025.Further communication will be released once the new health unit launches its official business name and new logo.

During this time, both the HKPR District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health remain committed to engaging with the communities they serve, partners and teams to determine future opportunities to continue the important work of public health across the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, Hiawatha First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Alderville First Nation, Peterborough County and the City of Peterborough.

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Peterborough Public Health Pauses Water Sample Courier Service For Winter Season

Peterborough Public Health (PPH), the Municipality of Trent Lakes and the Township of North Kawartha have paused their joint well water sample drop-off program for the winter.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The final date for county residents to drop off their samples at the North Kawartha or Trent Lakes Municipal Offices is Nov. 28. The drop-off service will resume in the first week of April 2025.

Throughout the winter months, residents may continue to drop off well water samples at: 

• Peterborough Public Health, 185 King St., Peterborough
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday
  8:30 a.m. –12 noon Friday 

• Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 99 Hospital Dr., Peterborough
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday 

• Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office, 1 Ottawa St., Havelock
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday 

PPH says it is essential to test well water several times yearly. Testing the water twice per year for a drilled well is recommended. For a dug well, the recommendation is four times per year.

“Even when the ground is frozen, contamination may be present. Sampling water from your well is the best way to ensure that the water is free of pathogens, which may cause illness if consumed.” said Chris Eaton, Public Health Inspector.  

Well water samples are tested for two types of bacterial contamination: total coliforms and E. coli which indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal material, which can contain disease-causing microbes. These can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Anyone can become ill if they consume contaminated water but the young, elderly and immuno-compromised are at a higher risk.

After samples are submitted, residents will receive water quality results by mail or call Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426.

For interpretation of the test results or to find out how to test for contaminants other than total coliforms or E. coli, please call Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 240 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

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Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Add Four New Board Members

Four new people have joined the board of directors of the Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, announced at the organization’s 2024 Annual General Meeting.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Melinda Gilmour, Barbara Lillico, Samantha Roan and Susan Scott were welcomed to the board. They join existing members Lesley Beagrie, board chair and already-serving board members, Joan Conrad, Lesa Fox and Margaret Keatings.

Gilmour, a registered nurse with additional certification as a community health nurse, serves as Director of Clinical Services at Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes Community Health Centre.

Roan recently joined Peterborough Public Health as the Manager of Indigenous Public Health. She is also pursuing her PhD in Indigenous Studies at Trent University.

Lillico retired after 25 years as Chief Executive Officer of the Peterborough Child & Family Centres.

Scott is a former journalist and communications specialist for several health care organizations. She also owned and operated her own communications consulting business.

The clinic also welcomed Danielle Howson to the role of Nurse Practitioner Lead and Executive Director. Howson has worked at the clinic for approximately four years as a nurse practitioner and now takes on the overall leadership of the clinic.

“I am so grateful to accept this new role within the Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic. I am pleased to continue to support and engage with the remarkable patients and staff of the clinic,” said Howson. “I respect the challenges that come with changeover of staff and leadership, and I remain optimistic that the clinic will grow and thrive in the coming months and years. The staff of the clinic are knowledgeable, skilled, and dedicated to providing exceptional primary health care and I am honoured to have their support as I learn this new role. I am equally looking forward to working closely with the board and the expertise they bring in guiding the clinic to success.”

“As our community experiences the pressures of shrinking primary care resources, we are pleased to work collectively as a Board towards our strategic goals of improved integration of services, diversity, equity and inclusive care delivery and collaborative practice,” said Beagrie. “To this end, I am delighted to welcome Danielle Howson to the position of Nurse Practitioner Lead and Executive Director. Danielle’s experience with the clinic and her professionalism will provide the leadership to guide our committed staff to achieve these goals. We welcome our new board members who will add a rich tapestry of skills and experience to our board - diversity of cultural backgrounds, communication and administrative experience, and leadership in health and social service sectors. Together, with our new and exciting team, we will capitalize on existing opportunities that will forward our mission and vision, and advocate for accessible and equitable primary care service for the city of Peterborough.”

The Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic has operated since 2011 after a grassroots, collaborative community effort to create an accessible, welcoming primary care clinic serving anyone without a primary care provider in the city and county of Peterborough, especially people experiencing barriers to health care access. The clinic has an interdisciplinary team with expertise in providing primary care to people with health risks including poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, experiences of violence and trauma, serious mental health challenges and social isolation.

The team comprises nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, registered social workers, mental health clinicians, personal support workers, and administrative support staff.

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Mandatory Masking Policy Returns to Peterborough Regional Health Centre

Effective immediately, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has reimplemented masking in all direct patient care areas.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

According to a press release, PRHC’s goal remains to protect patients from developing hospital-acquired COVID-19 and other respiratory virus infections during the respiratory season. Masking will be mandatory for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers.

“Masks slow the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses,” said Dr. Justin Tilak, PRHC Infection Prevention and Control group physician lead. “During respiratory season, where COVID-19, RSV, flu and more are circulating more frequently, we want to do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable patients.”

This decision comes as many hospitals across Ontario, including Toronto’s University Health Network, implement similar measures.

Medical masks will continue to be available at the Main Entrance, in the Emergency Department and in patient care areas across the hospital.

Based on the patient's location and status, additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and visiting restrictions may apply.

In addition to masking, PRHC is continuing active screening of all patients and visitors entering their facility.

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PRHC Foundation Seeking Volunteer Campaign Ambassadors

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation seeks volunteer ambassadors for the Foundation’s Campaign for PRHC.

(From left to right) Lesley Heighway, President & CEO; Jane Lovett, Manager, Community Giving & Engagement: and Hanna Méthot, Community Giving & Engagement Coordinator. Representatives of the PRHC Foundation team are headed out into the community to recruit Campaign for PRHC Ambassadors, gather patient and donor stories and share how donor support is shaping the future of patient care at PRHC. Photo courtesy of PRHC.

Everyone is welcome as an ambassador, according to Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President & CEO.

“Our family, friends, and neighbours from across the region have told us that they think of PRHC as a cornerstone of the community, where the excellent care they received was part of some of the most meaningful moments of their lives,” she said. “We’re grateful that our supporters want to share their stories and inspire others.”

Volunteers help raise the funds needed to empower world-class care close to home, introduce lifesaving services, attract top healthcare professionals and inspire solutions to the hospital's critical challenges according to a press release.

“The ambassadors program will support that – connecting volunteers enthusiastic about our donorfunded regional hospital and the health and future of our area, who want to celebrate what PRHC means to them and what’s possible through the power of community,” said Heighway. “If you have a story about the great care you received, a message for staff, or want to say thanks and connect with our community through a fundraising event, please let us know. We want to help you share that passion.”

To volunteer as a campaign ambassador, email foundationeventsonline@prhc.on.ca or call 705-876-5000.

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The City of Peterborough Announces Partnership With Family Physician Think Tank

The City of Peterborough is collaborating with the Peterborough Family Doctors’ Think Tank to support its new approach to physician recruitment and retention, announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The Think Tank is a consulting and brainstorming group of independent family physicians in Peterborough which focuses on local advocacy and grassroots-level changes to maximize physician recruitment and retention. 

The Think Tank is providing guidance and making recommendations to the City’s new Physician Recruitment Coordinator and is partnering with the City on joint projects that support primary care in Peterborough. The Think Tank's advice will be critical to the City’s efforts to highlight Peterborough as an ideal place to have a primary care career. 

“Peterborough has a great deal to offer prospective physicians so they can contribute meaningfully to various types of patient care while also living in a community in which they are valued as leaders,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to work with local doctors through this partnership to understand the diverse practice types and evolving careers of family doctors.” 

The Think Tank’s founder, Dr. Madura Sundareswaran, emphasizes the importance of this partnership.

“Peterborough is a fantastic place to live and work, and the Think Tank is excited about the City‘s innovative and unique new family physician recruitment and retention strategy. Family physicians should be part of the recruitment effort, and, as such, we are proud to be working with the City to leverage the strengths of Peterborough and its local physicians,” said Dr. Sundareswaran. “We all share the common goal of ensuring that everyone in this community has access to a primary care provider, and we look forward to working together to achieve this goal.”

The City’s physician recruitment efforts aim to work towards fair and equitable access to primary care, a challenge faced by many communities across the province. As retirements and administrative burdens increase, it is vital to expand access for new patients and maintain care for those already with a family doctor.

The City’s Physician Recruitment Coordinator, Chantal Van Parys, is centralizing resources and now serves as prospective physicians' main contact.

Over the coming months, the City will showcase what Peterborough can offer recent graduates and family physicians who have yet to settle into a practice.

This collaboration with the Think Tank is part of the City’s pilot project, and the City has committed to funding it until December next year.

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CUPE Not "Horsing Around" To Ontario Government's Privatized Healthcare Plan

Serving as a metaphor in response to the Ontario Premier’s plan to bring privatized healthcare to the province, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have brought a 15-foot trojan horse to a rally at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) on Thursday morning.

The 15-foot trojan horse is making 61 stops along the province. It made a visit at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay after it made a stop at the PRHC. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The horse is synonymous with Greek mythology. During the Trojan War, the Greeks used a wooden horse disguised as a gift to gain access to the city of Troy and secure a victory. Soldiers were hiding inside the wooden horse as an ambush.

In May of last year, Doug Ford, Ontario Premier, had Bill 60 (Your Health Act) pass legislation to allow private clinics to conduct more OHIP-covered surgeries.

CUPE believes this bill is a trojan horse and disrupts and negatively affects the public healthcare system rather than both being able to co-exist.

“It's actually the opposite,” said Sharon Richer, CUPE secretary-treasurer of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions. “What it is going to do, (is) create longer wait times, create staffing issues and more hallway medicine that we're already today.”

According to CUPE, $968 million was spent on for-profit staffing agencies last year. The report continues to state that there was an increase of 212 per cent for private, for-profit clinics from 2023-24. This drains resources from the public system, contributing to staffing shortages and long wait times, says Richer.

“If you don't have the money, you're not going to be moved up into the line and the waitlists are going to grow longer here and that private clinics are only going to take healthy patients,” she said. “What's going to be left for the hospitals are people with medical issues on top already with the surgery that they're having so it's going to create longer wait times.”

While CUPE says it has not affected the PRHC for now, they have already seen its effects elsewhere in Ontario.

“In Don Mills, people are going to have their cataracts done at a private clinic and they're charging OHIP, $1,269 where if they have it done in a public hospital, it costs OHIP $508,” explained Richer. “This is almost two-and-a-half times more. This is our public taxes paying for these private clinics to make a profit and this is why we're sounding an alarm.”

CUPE’s solution to the problem is funding public health care. According to their report, Ontario has the fewest beds per 1,000 people across the country and the lowest staffing levels. They want increased healthcare funding in the public sector and to stop privatization.

CUPE hopes the trojan horse sends a message to Doug Ford and the Conservative government about reconsidering privatized healthcare.

“We're going across the province, we have 61 stops in various communities and we're talking to people,” concluded Richer. “There will be an election coming up in the spring and people need to make sure healthcare is the number one topic in this election and they need to force Doug Ford to repeal the Bill. If we get a new government, the government needs to repeal the privatization for the clinics, Bill 60.”

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