MPP Natalie Pierre announces $700,000+ for local health organization

Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre announced $710,000 in funding to the Burlington Family Health Team (BFHT) during a press conference this morning (April 26).

Pierre was joined by Oakville and North Burlington MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos and members of the Burlington Family Health Team (BFHT) at their office at 720 Guelph Line, during the announcement to help expand the services BFHT can provide to people in the area.

“We want to help connect more people in the Burlington community to primary health care providers right here in Burlington,” Pierre said. “That includes primary health care practitioners, nurse practitioners, physiotherapy and psychotherapy clinics, all within the Burlington Family Health Team and our lovely community of Burlington.”

The MPPs talked about the importance of having health be close to home for citizens who struggle with mobility. The provincial government has also increased its spending on paramedic support over the past few budgets and is investing $2 billion over the next three years in home care services.

“I’m hoping that as time goes on that these health teams become even more integrated and more tied to the heart of the community,” Triantafilopoulos said. “We want to ensure that our patients are at the centre of care that BFHT provides, and I believe that allied professionals working together is the future and the way forward.”

BFHT provides a variety of healthcare services to the region, including psychotherapy and physiotherapy, and shares resources on mental health, child well-being, healthy living and dealing with chronic diseases.

“We’re thrilled that the model BFHT has here in Burlington has helped to serve so many people right here in our community,” Pierre said. “It allows them to staff up and expand services to even more people.”

The BFHT is currently running a group education and exercise program twice per week for people with knee or hip osteoarthritis until May 16.