There are many options in Ontario to get your health care needs met. Learn about these various options and what is available in Sarnia-Lambton.
Telehealth Ontario
Telehealth Ontario is a free, 24-hour, confidential telephone service you can call to get health advice or general health information from a qualified health care professional. Operators at Telehealth Ontario can help you decide your best option for care and can provide information in multiple languages if necessary.
Telehealth Ontario’s phone number is 1-866-797-0000. TTY: 1-866-797-0007.
Community Health Centre
Community Health Centres (CHCs) provide health care services (both primary care and health promotion programs) for registered clients. A team of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, dietitians and other health care professionals provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment and referral to other services when required. Community Health Centres are not walk-in clinics. To access services at a CHC, there is an application process.
There are two CHCs in Lambton County:
- North Lambton Community Health Centre is located in Forest but has satellite sites in Sarnia and Watford
- Grand Bend Area Community Health Centreis located in Grand Bend with a satellite office in Thedford
Emergency Room
The Emergency Room (ER) is the hospital department that provides medical and surgical care to patients in need of urgent medical attention including serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries. For more information on our local hospitals, visit our Hospitals page.
Family Doctor
Doctors are key health care providers. They focus on family health care, diagnosing and treating diseases, physical disorders and injuries in patients of all ages. To find a doctor locally, visit our Find a Doctor page.
Family Health Team
Similar to Community Health Centres, Family Health Teams (FHTs) bring together different health care professionals under one roof. FHTs are set up to give family doctors support from other health care professionals such as nurses, nurse practitioners, dieticians and pharmacists who work together to give you a wide range of services.
- Rapids Family Health Team is located in Sarnia and has a satellite site in Corunna
- Central Family Health Team is located in Petrolia
Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses with additional education and experience. Like doctors, nurse practitioners diagnose and treat diseases, order testing and share results with patients, prescribe medicine and perform certain procedures. Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics provide ongoing primary health care and can also help promote healthy living. If you do not have a family doctor, these clinics are a good option.
- Twin Bridges Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic is located in Sarnia
Public Health Unit
A Public Health Unit is an official health agency that administers health promotion and disease prevention programs to inform the public about healthy life-styles, communicable disease control including education in STDs/AIDS, immunization, food premises inspection, healthy growth and development including parenting education, health education for all age groups and selected screening services. These services are free to all members of the community.
- Lambton Public Health has three locations in Lambton County – Point Edward, Sarnia and Forest – and provides many services including quit smoking programs, prenatal and parenting classes, healthy eating programs and programs that promote physical activity
Urgent Care Centre
Urgent Care Centres provide services to patients who are seeking treatment for non-life threatening conditions during the day, in the evenings and on weekends. You do not require an appointment to go to an urgent care centre.
Walk-In/After Hours Clinic
A walk-in clinic is a place where you can go to be treated for non-emergency situations. Like urgent care centres, these clinics are often open on evenings and weekends and do not require an appointment. Unfortunately, Sarnia-Lambton does not currently have a walk-in clinic for the public and those who do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner must go to the hospital emergency room for assistance even in non-emergency situations.
For more information on any of these options, visit the Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Information is also available in multiple languages.
