HOSPITAL OPENS PRENATAL CLINIC

ed to the birthing unit.

Patients with a primary-care provider can be referred to the clinic through their providers'officeataround12-14weeksgestation. Those without a primary-care providecanself-referatanytimebyfillingout an online form at gbgh.on.ca.

Pregnant people in north Simcoe no longer need to leave the community to receive most types of prenatal care.

A prenatal clinic was slated to open June 20 at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GHGH) to provide high-quality, standardized care for people across the north Simcoe region.

"Through the establishment of the prenatal clinic, GBGH will be able to provide continuityofcaretopatientsfromthefirst trimester all the way to their delivery," said Dr. Chevy (Jan) Moreau, chief of obstetricsatGBGH."Inadditiontoproviding prenatal care, the clinic also offers an opportunity for patients to meet the obstetrical team, tour the birthing unit, and have ongoing followup appointments with direct access to the hospital's diagnosticimaging and lab services."

The clinic, which operates Monday mornings, is staffed by a team of nurses and obstetrical physicians, including severallocalfamilyphysicianswhoregularly perform deliveries at the hospital.

Theservicewillbelocatedintheambulatory-care department for its first few months of operation before being relocat-

"GBGH strives to always align the services we provide with the needs of the community," said chief of staff Dr. Vikram Ralhan. "By opening this clinic, GBGH will offer routine prenatal care close to home and, ideally, encourage more women to remain within our community to have their babies."

Annually, there are approximately 300 births that occur from GBGH's catchment area of Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny, Tay, Christian Island, Georgian Bay Township and Springwater. Between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, there were 138 births at GBGH, indicating there is a significant number of women travelling outside the region for birthing services.

GBGH officials estimate 90 per cent of births from the catchment occurring at other hospitals within the region could have been completed at GBGH.