Supporting Primary Care Services in Growing Neighbourhoods - by Councillor Jaye Robinson, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle

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The decision

2023-05-10 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on May 10, 11 and 12, 2023, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the appropriate divisions, to report back to the appropriate standing committee in the first quarter of 2024 on what ability the City has to protect existing access and support new healthcare services in various parts of the City to ensure health and social services are planned as part of communities given the loss of primary care providers and local medical office spaces, such report to consider opportunities to support the establishment of local health hubs to provide integrated, local primary care services connected to hospital resources and explore the feasibility of requiring medical office replacement at affordable rents in new buildings.

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2. City Council request the appropriate staff to meet with Provincial staff, including the Ministry of Health, to highlight the areas of Toronto that are experiencing growth and where additional capital investments may be required by the Province to address the need for local healthcare services, and provide an update to the appropriate standing committee as part of the report referenced in Part 1 above. 3. City Council request the appropriate staff to consult with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, Toronto hospitals, and primary care providers as part of the report referenced in Part 1 above.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Medical professionals have begun sounding the alarm about the loss of primary care services across Toronto, particularly in rapidly intensifying neighbourhoods. In line with the City of Toronto's goals to build complete, walkable communities, it's important that we protect the local healthcare services that residents rely on. The loss of primary care services is particularly acute in North Toronto, where escalating rents are leading many providers to leave the neighbourhood in search of more affordable clinic space.

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Without access to preventative care locally, medical issues can escalate which in turn puts immense pressure on Emergency Departments in Toronto hospitals. High-functioning healthcare systems have strong, integrated primary care services. In Midtown Toronto, there has been a permanent displacement of healthcare services as a result of residential development. This pattern is occurring in many areas throughout the City, meaning that densifying neighbourhoods that need the most service often have the least access to local primary care. For example, a local medical building at 586 Eglinton Avenue East is proposed to be demolished and replaced with a new residential building. These valuable healthcare service providers will likely be unable to relocate within the same neighbourhood due to escalating rents. This application is one of several development proposals in the area, both under review and recently-approved, that involve displacing healthcare services. The lack of affordable and appropriately-sized medical office space is contributing to what some medical professionals are calling a crisis in primary care. While much of the responsibility for the healthcare system lies with the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto can support measures to protect and expand primary care services. Experts have suggested that one way to address this growing issue to establish integrated healthcare hubs connected to local hospital resources. In consultation with healthcare professionals and the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto can do our part to support local healthcare hubs by helping to protect existing and secure new medical office spaces. The conversations about how to ensure equitable healthcare access for growing communities involves all levels of government.

Staff recommended

Councillor Jaye Robinson, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle, recommends that: 1. City Council direct the City Manager to conduct a review of the loss of primary care providers and local medical services in high-growth neighbourhoods and report back to the appropriate standing committee in the first quarter of 2024 with strategies to protect existing and support new healthcare services, such review to be conducted in consultation with stakeholders including the Government of Ontario, Toronto hospitals, and primary care providers, and to include the following:: a.

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assessing the feasibility of requiring medical office replacement at affordable rents in new buildings; b. exploring potential options to use community benefits to secure healthcare spaces; and c. strategies to support the establishment of local health hubs to provide integrated, local primary care services connected to hospital resources.

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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