Colborne Rural Outreach Clinic open but future is unclear, says health team co-chair

Robert Washburn October 3, 2025 2 min read

RURAL OUTREACH CLINIC COLBORNE — In 2021, the Ontario Health Team Northumberland and Cramahe Township council teamed up to create a rural outreach clinic in Colborne. Since then, the clinic has served residents, many of whom do not have a local doctor, as an alternative to walk-in clinics or visiting the hospital’s emergency room.

The Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne is open.

That is a message the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland wants residents to understand clearly. It is booking appointments. But the hours are reduced as the health team settles some staffing issues.

However, the future is less certain.

Taryn Rennicks is executive director of Community Health Centres of Northumberland and co-chair of Ontario Health Team – Northumberland. In this interview, she will talk about the future of the outreach clinic. It is complex, as there are many factors contributing to a series of decisions going forward. Staffing and a memorandum of understanding between Cramahe council needs to be negotiated. Then, there are finances and many more things.

Yet, there is something residents and users can do, as Rennicks will explain. A decision is expected to be made by the end of October, Rennick said.

Listen carefully to get the picture and understand what can be done.

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