MPP Jagmeet Singh followed registered nurses’ footsteps at Bramalea Community Health Centre

MPP Jagmeet Singh meeting with WellFort Health Services Nurses

WellFort Community Health Services received the New Democratic Party of Ontario MPP Jagmeet Singh in a visit that aimed to show the Member of the Provincial Parliament the successes and challenges faced by Community Health Centres while emphasizing the role of nurses in the health system in Ontario.

This initiative “Take your MPP to work” started in 2000 organized by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) in partnership with Community Health Centres across Ontario aims to equip decision makers with the necessary insight to make sustainable changes to health policy. During the visit at Bramalea CHC, MPP, Singh experienced first hand what clients coming to the Health Centre encounter.

Nurses have a critical role to play in disease prevention, health promotion and client-centered care. This event gave MPP Singh a fantastic opportunity to experience this and see, firsthand, the high-quality care RNs and NPs provide on a daily basis. It also helped enhance their knowledge when it came to the day-to-day workings of our health-care system.

We enjoyed the company of a down to earth and caring political representative. As our nurses discussed the importance of open focused care and barriers to accessing quality healthcare services, MPP Singh had this to say…“Taking care of people in the way you do it is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do.” A sentiment shared by the Executive Director Mayo Hawco, who met with Singh to discuss the organization’s vision and future milestones, such as the new location for the Malton site (Four Corners Health Centre) at the Westwood Mall.

There was a packed agenda in store for the MPP, WellFort Community Health Services that provided multiple lenses for the political leader to experience the work done at our CHC as well the pivotal role nurses play. Take for example, the innovative practices introduced to the CHC by our nurses and dieticians from the Diabetes Education Program; Walk and Talk appointments. These are appointments where our team of nurses and dieticians discuss and counsel health promotion strategies with clients while going for a walk in the local neighborhood. Better yet, the physical activity demonstrates an immediate change in blood sugar and blood pressure that shows the clients of the benefits of physical activity.

The voice of the community, an exhibit put together by our community health educators featured various works of art produced by our community programs. MPP Singh concluded his visit by finally undergoing screening for HIV and Hepatitis C. By undergoing this procedure, he advocated for the need for early screening and treatment for those at risk.

Creating and sustaining platforms that engage discussions such as this is an important component of the Canadian Healthcare system. This allows us to highlight the role CHCs and nurses play in strengthening the social cultural determinants of health. WellFort Community Health Services was proud to host such an event and looks forward to engaging more health champions in the future.