Province Invests New Funding to Expand Belleville Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
Date: March 03, 2023
The Belleville Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (BNPLC) will be able to serve thousands more residents after receiving a significant funding boost from the Ontario government aimed at improving access to primary care across the Quinte region.
The announcement was made by Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte, who confirmed the Ministry of Health will provide the clinic with up to $209,800 in additional base funding for the 2022–2023 fiscal year. Beginning in 2023–2024, the clinic will receive up to $839,200 annually in ongoing base funding.
This investment will allow BNPLC to expand its team by hiring additional health-care professionals, including 2.6 nurse practitioners, 1.5 administrative staff, one registered nurse, and one social worker. With the increased staffing, the clinic is expected to connect approximately 2,000 more patients with primary care services.
Smith said the expansion will help address the growing number of residents in the region who do not currently have a primary care provider. He praised the clinic for submitting a strong proposal and highlighted the government’s commitment to strengthening frontline health services.
Karen Clayton-Babb, Chief Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Director at BNPLC, welcomed the funding, noting that many residents across the region have gone years without consistent access to primary care. She said the expansion represents meaningful progress toward meeting the needs of unattached patients and improving long-term health outcomes.
Municipal leaders also emphasized the clinic’s importance to the broader regional health system. Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson noted that many residents from northern PEC rely on the Belleville clinic while they wait for a family doctor, adding that access to primary care helps reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.
The funding is part of a broader $8.1-million provincial investment designed to strengthen primary care services in high-need communities across Ontario. In total, the initiative supports 18 Family Health Teams, two Community Health Centres, and two Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics. The Ministry of Health reviewed more than 70 proposals valued at over $50 million and indicated that further funding allocations are expected.
Barinder Gill, Communications and Engagement Lead for the Hastings Prince Edward Ontario Health Team, said the funding aligns with the organization’s goal of delivering integrated, community-based care. Gill added that the BNPLC has been a strong partner and will continue to play a key role in improving health and wellness throughout the region.
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