More nurse practitioner clinics, family health teams coming: Caplan

Health Minister David Caplan says he'll move ahead with a plan to expand the number of nurse practitioner clinics in the province despite tough economic times.

Caplan says starting this spring, the province will put out a call for proposals for new nurse practitioner clinics and family health teams.

He says he's not sure how many clinics and teams will be created this year because the government is still drafting its budget.

But Caplan says the province will move ahead with the plan even though it's facing tough times.

The Liberal government has promised to provide 50 new family health teams by 2011, in addition to the current 150.

A spokesman for the minister says there is one nurse practitioner clinic operating in Sudbury, but three others are expected to be unveiled in the next few weeks.

The government has promised to create 22 additional nurse practitioner clinics.