Lakelands Public Health – Peterborough, ON

Lakelands Public Health (Peterborough Office)

Lakelands Public Health is the newly established regional health authority serving the City and County of Peterborough, as well as the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Formally launched in January 2025 following the merger of the former Peterborough Public Health and the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, this institution represents a significant consolidation of public health resources in Central East Ontario. The Peterborough office, located at 185 King Street in the Jackson Square building, continues to function as a primary operational hub, ensuring that local residents retain access to essential health protection and promotion services.

Clinical Services and Health Promotion

The facility provides a broad spectrum of clinical services aimed at preventing disease and promoting well-being across all life stages. These services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team of public health nurses, dental hygienists, and support staff.

• Immunization Clinics: The health unit administers publicly funded vaccines to infants, children, and adults. This includes routine immunizations required for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, as well as seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. The office manages a centralized database of immunization records, allowing parents to update and retrieve their children’s vaccination history.
• Sexual Health Clinic: This clinic offers confidential and non-judgmental services, including testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), birth control counseling, pregnancy testing, and access to low-cost contraceptives. Services are often available by appointment to ensure privacy and reduced wait times.
• Dental Health: The office houses a dental clinic that provides services to eligible seniors through the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and to children from low-income families via the Healthy Smiles Ontario program. Services range from routine cleaning and scaling to urgent care for dental pain.
• Family Health: Through the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program, public health nurses provide home visits and support to expectant mothers and new parents, offering guidance on breastfeeding, infant development, and positive parenting strategies.

Environmental Health and Regulatory Enforcement

Lakelands Public Health acts as a robust regulatory body responsible for enforcing the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Public Health Inspectors operating out of the Peterborough office conduct rigorous inspections to safeguard the community from environmental hazards.

• Food Safety: Inspectors routinely audit restaurants, grocery stores, and institutional kitchens to ensure compliance with provincial food safety regulations. They also investigate reports of foodborne illnesses and provide food handler training certification.
• Safe Water: The health unit monitors the quality of drinking water and public recreational water facilities (beaches, pools, and spas). Residents on private wells can pick up and drop off water sample bottles at this location for bacterial testing.
• Rabies Control: The office investigates animal bite incidents to assess the risk of rabies transmission and coordinates post-exposure prophylaxis when necessary.

Governance and Strategic Role

As a merged entity, Lakelands Public Health operates under an autonomous Board of Health comprised of municipal and provincial appointees. The organization plays a critical role in emergency preparedness, leading the regional response to infectious disease outbreaks, extreme weather events, and other public health emergencies. By integrating resources from the former health units, the agency aims to deliver more consistent and equitable services across its expanded jurisdiction while maintaining a strong local presence in Peterborough.

Visiting the Facility

The Peterborough office is situated in downtown Peterborough at the intersection of King and George Streets. Visitors should note that the facility is a designated scent-free environment to protect individuals with sensitivities. While some services may offer drop-in availability, the majority of clinical appointments-especially for dental care and sexual health-should be booked in advance via the central booking line or the online portal. The building is fully accessible, featuring elevators and barrier-free washrooms.