Premier Ford on hand for North Bay's new Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic official opening

The new Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic had its official opening today (friday) and the Premier was on hand for the ribbon cutting.

Doug Ford says he supports clinics like this because it eases the strain on people without a major care provider going to hospital to get checked out.

“It takes the burden off of hospitals and is a great step to ending hallway health care. What a great clinic this is as the people are so enthusiastic,” he says.

He says the government is funding this clinic at a cost of $1.1 million because it talked to the front line workers on what was needed to ease the strain on hospitals.

“Our philosophy is to listen to the front line people to improve health care and that’s what we’ve done. And we haven’t listened to politicians at Queen’s Park who really don’t know anything about health care,” Ford says.

The Director of the clinic is Jaymie-lynn Blanchard. She says they will start accepting patient applications on line and in person on Monday and being downtown will be a big difference for health care in the community.

“2,600 patients getting primary care. That will have a big impact on emergency room use and walk-in clinic use because we’ll be able to service their health needs here,” she says.

She says they have 10 staff including 3 nurse practitioners.

Meantime, Ford was asked about the student walkout across the province including in North Bay. He re-iterated his stance that the teachers were to blame for the walkout.

“Mistruths that the students are being fed by teachers unions. Make no mistake about this. We’re going to have the lowest average class size in the entire country,” he says.

Ford also went with Finance Minister Vic Fedeli to Vic’s Shoe Repair on Shirreff Avenue to see his (Fedeli’s) refurbished cowboy boots measured in advance of next week’s provincial budget.