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Staying healthy requires knowing about health care services near you. This includes knowing where Norfolk’s hospital is located, as well as how and where to find medical clinics, doctors, dentists, and pharmacies. Staying healthy also means taking care of your mental health. There are many services in the community that provide mental health services. Other services help people who have addictions. Sometimes it takes time to talk to or see someone and thus you are added to a wait list, but not always.
Getting an Ontario Health Card is essential. The card, sometimes called an OHIP card, gives people access to health-care services, most of which are free. You don’t have to be a Canadian citizen to qualify for an Ontario Health Card. Permanent residents, people who have applied to be a permanent resident, refugees, and people in Ontario on a valid work permit can qualify.
Getting an Ontario health card
If you don’t have an OHIP card, you need to fill out an application form. The form can be downloaded on a computer. If you qualify for a health card, the coverage starts right away.
Finding a doctor or nurse practitioner
Many people don’t have a doctor. If this is true for you, there’s a free service called Health Care Connects where a nurse will look for a doctor or nurse practitioner for you in your area.Â
Health811
If you or a family member is sick, talking to a nurse by phone can help when there is no emergency. By calling 811 – a free call – you can get helpful advice. You can call any time, day or night.
Canada Dental Health Plan
Some residents of Canada, including some newcomers, may qualify to get free dental care for their children or themselves if they meet a number of conditions.
Pharmacies in Ontario provide health care
In Ontario, pharmacies have the ability to give some vaccinations and treat people with minor health issues, such as urinary tract infections, pink eye, hives, acid reflux, and more.Â
Interim Federal Health Program
Some types of newcomers, such as resettled refugees, refugee claimants, and protected persons, may be eligible for limited, temporary health-care benefits.
Norfolk General Hospital
Norfolk’s only hospital provides a wide range of medical care and services. This includes a 24-hour emergency department, surgery, labour and delivery, X-rays, ultrasounds, mammograms, rehabilitation, and several clinics (both in-patient and out-patient).Â
Address: 365 West Street, Simcoe
Norfolk Family Health Team (FHT)
This Health Team provides health care to all Norfolk residents at medical clinics at several locations. The service includes access to family doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, and other health-care professionals. It also operates an after-hours medical clinic for FHT patients only (no walk-ins). Call a clinic for same-day daytime appointments and walk-in hours.
Clinic Addresses & Phone Numbers:Â
185 Robinson Street, Suite 101, Simcoe. Phone: 519-582-2323
105 Main Street, Delhi. Phone: 519-582-2323
1009 Bay Street Port Rowan. Phone: 519-586-3143
Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) – Formerly known as the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit (HNHU) with the Brant County Health Unit (BCHU)
The Health Unit provides free information, programs, and services to help people of all ages stay healthy. The Health Unit holds immunization clinics, does dental screening for young children in school, offers prenatal classes (in-person and online), holds a weekly Baby Well Drop-in program, and provides information on nutrition, sexual health, and more. They regularly offer a safe food handler course, which is required for workers handling food. They inspect for safety at all tattoo, body piercing, aethestic salons, pools and spas, and anywhere food is served.
Address: 185 Robinson Street, Simcoe
Canadian Mental Health Association – Brant Haldimand Norfolk
This office provides free services and supports to adults (16 years and over) with mental illness, mental disorders, and their families. They offer a number of services, including: counselling services, employment supports, affordable housing, a facility for those in a mental health crisis to stay (up to 7 nights), and a support group for families. Some services are available in Norfolk. Some are based in Brantford.
Address: 395 Queensway West, Simcoe
South Coast Wellness Haldimand and Norfolk
This community agency provides assessment, treatment, education, and support to people with mental illness and/or addiction concerns. They provide free mental services for residents ages 16+ and addiction services for people of any age. It runs an Achieve Mental Health Wellness and Recovery Centre in Simcoe. The Addiction Mobile Outreach Team supports people with substance use issues, gambling, and other issues. People can make a self referral (does not require a referral from a doctor)They were formerly known as Community Addictions and Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The operate a mobile clinic.
Simcoe Address: 76 Victoria Street.
Midwives of East Erie
The organization provides free pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. The midwives perform low risk baby deliveries at Norfolk General Hospital. They offer prenatal care for women and postnatal care to moms and babies. Also serves Haldimand County.
Simcoe Address: 220 Victoria Street.
Grand River Community Health Centre (GRCHC) – International Agricultural Worker Program
Provides free health-care services to seasonal agricultural workers. A mobile clinic visits farms, town centres and supermarkets to help workers stay healthy, treating disease, muscle injuries and minor health problems. Also provides virtual appointments. The GRCHC also has a Gender Affirming Clinic that serves Norfolk.
Note: No set address for mobile clinic.
Haldimand-Norfolk REACH
The REACH program provides a variety of health services to children, youth, and families. This includes mental health services for children and youth (up to age 18), services for people with autism or developmental disabilities, services for pregnant women and new moms, and counselling for adults, couples, and families.
Simcoe Address:Â 228 John Street
HNHBhealthline.ca
An online list with links to health services in and near Norfolk, including those listed above. Information can be looked up by type of service.
The Kids Help Phone provides free online mental services 24 hours per day to children, teens, and young adults. The Kids Help Phone website provides information that helps kids and youth understand their feelings and cope with common issues such as talking to their family, bullying, body image, sex and dating, and more. They also provide counselling through its crisis phone line. Children, teens, and young adults can talk to a counsellor in 100 languages, with trained interpreters.
There are a lot of websites about health, but not all have accurate information. Websites that belong to the Canadian and Ontario governments, or from a recognizable health care service, or from a service that helps newcomers, are more trustworthy.
Canada’s Food Guide
The Canadian government’s food guide provides tips and advice on eating healthy. The guide is available in multiple languages.
Mental health and well-being support for newcomers – Canada
This is an information page from the Canadian government about mental health services and supports for newcomers.
Information in Other Languages – CAMH (Canada’s top mental health teaching hospital)
Information for newcomers can be downloaded in multiple languages. Topics include: Asking for Help, Addiction, Coping with Stress, and more.
Find mental health and addiction services in your community – Ontario
This is an information page from the Ontario government with advice about finding mental and addiction services.
Where can I get help with addictions
This is an information page from Settlement.org that has advice about how to get help with mental health and addictions.