Please note that as of October 20, 2025, the North York Family Health Team allied health care workers are unavailable due to a labour disruption. This includes Nursing, Social Work, Pharmacy, Dietetics, Nurse Practitioner, Diabetes Education Program, Chiropody, and Allied Health Support. Access to your family doctor remains unchanged. Our office continues to stay open however you may experience delays in booking immunizations due to lack of nursing. Please visit the North York Family Health Team website for updates.
New Cervical Cancer Screening
As of March 3, 2025, Ontario has transitioned to HPV cervical testing instead of the pap smear for cervical cancer screening. The test is still collected through a pelvic exam, similar to the pap smear. Patients who had their last pap smear before this date will be due for an HPV cervical screen after the usual three-year interval. Once a patient has a negative HPV screen, the testing interval will extend to five years. More frequent screening may be needed for patients who are immunocompromised or have a history of abnormal pap or HPV results. For more information, visit Cancer Care Ontario or contact our office with any questions.
Pharmacy Treatment for Minor Ailments
Ontario pharmacist are now authorized to prescribe medications for 19 minor ailments such as acne, allergies, canker sores, cold sores, pink eye, eczema, diaper rash, reflux, hemorrhoids, tick bites, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections. For the full list visit the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
Launch of Toronto Health and Social Services Directory
Should I get my "check-up"?
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Longterm Care replaced annual check-ups with Periodic Health Exams, or "PHE". These reviews are at regular intervals, but do not necessarily require a yearly visit.
The PHE is an opportunity to organize cancer screening, update vaccinations, discuss strategies for health promotion, and address other non-urgent health issues relevant to your medical history and lifestyle. It is typically scheduled every 1-3 years, depending on the individual's medical complexity. Children 2-15 years old should be seen every year.
PHEs were postponed during the COVID19 Pandemic. As a result, we recognize that there is a backlog of patients wanting to book for their PHE, however these are considered non-urgent appointments. We appreciate your patience when booking these types of appointments. As always, should you have an urgent concern, please advise the office.
New colon cancer screening test
As of June 24th, 2019, Ontario has replaced the previous guaic fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). It is a safe and painless test that checks your stool (poop) for tiny drops of blood, which can be caused by colorectal cancer or some pre-cancerous polyps (growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time). You can do this test at home and it only takes a few minutes. Unlike the previous gFOBT poop test, you do not have to change your diet or stop taking medication to do the test. It is also a single poop sample which is more convenient.
FIT is offered to all average risk patients age 50-74 and is typically done every 2 years. If you’re due for your colon cancer screening (or unsure), call our office and the kit can be ordered if due. Please ensure your mailing address on file is up to date as the FIT package will be mailed directly to your home.
To find out more about colon cancer screening and FIT, please visit Cancer Care Ontario.