Toronto Library and UHN Launch Mobile Health Clinic to Serve Toronto’s Most Vulnerable Residents

A new mobile health clinic is expanding access to primary care in Toronto through a partnership between University Health Network and the Toronto Public Library, with service beginning at library branches across the city. The initiative is designed to reach people who face barriers to care, including unhoused residents, refugees, newcomers, youth and others dealing with physical or mental health concerns.

The first pilot site is the Sanderson branch at Bathurst and Dundas streets, an area selected because of high levels of poverty, homelessness and health-care-related calls. The location was also chosen because of its close proximity to Toronto Western Hospital, making it easier to connect patients with additional medical resources when needed.

Dr. Andrew Boozary, executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine, said the program reflects a shift in how health systems should respond to unmet needs by bringing care directly to the community. He said many people in Toronto continue to struggle to access basic health services, social supports and primary care, and that the goal is to meet people where they are rather than expecting them to navigate multiple barriers on their own.

The mobile clinic is staffed by a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse and a mobile health support representative. The team aims to provide a full range of primary care services, not just basic triage. Each van is equipped with medical supplies and a full exam bed, allowing staff to conduct proper assessments and offer a more complete clinic experience.

As of Tuesday, one mobile clinic was operating five days a week at the Sanderson branch, which officials described as a high-need location. Boozary said the clinic has already seen a wide range of patients, including people with health and mental health challenges, as well as newcomers and refugees.

Toronto Public Library senior manager of adult services Aly Velji said the library was a natural partner because it is a welcoming public space that many people already use. She said libraries can help connect people to supports when they do not know where else to go or have difficulty finding services in their own neighbourhoods. According to Velji, the Sanderson branch was also selected because many visitors there did not already have links to primary care.

The clinic does not require identification, a feature Boozary said is intended to reduce barriers and help rebuild trust with communities that may be reluctant to seek care. He said the service is meant to be open, approachable and capable of starting ongoing relationships with patients.

Organizers say the project is intended to function as a full-scale primary care clinic and help reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments by providing accessible care in a community setting. If successful, the model could serve as a new way to deliver health services to people who are often left out of the traditional health-care system.