Ontario has opened a new Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers (OHCOW) in Ottawa, dedicated to help treat and reduce workplace-related injuries and diseases for patients in eastern Ontario. The government is providing $777,000 in new funding for the clinic with ongoing support every year.

This clinic will ease the strain for patients in eastern Ontario who must currently travel to Toronto or Sudbury for a consultation before treatment. The full-service facility will provide clinical, diagnostic and preventative services for any worker suffering from a workplace-related injury or occupational disease. These patients can begin the process of accessing these services by contacting the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers directly.

“This clinic is an excellent addition to the services provided to injured workers by our government in the region,” said Kevin Flynn, Minister of Labour, in a press release. “Ontario is one of the safest jurisdictions in the world to work, and while injuries continue to decrease, there is always more we can do. This OHCOW clinic will become a valuable resource for local workers and will help us all to work together to continue to reduce the number of workplace injuries in the province.”

The new clinic is the sixth fully staffed Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers located across the province. OHCOWs are specialized clinics equipped with unique knowledge and expertise in work-related injuries and illnesses. In addition to supporting several existing cases, these clinics currently accept 1,000 new cases every year.