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Local health care partners are reminding residents that while their family doctors may be away over the holiday season, a full range of healthcare options are still available. The Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), in partnership with the Mississauga Halton Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), has launched the annual Feel Better Faster winter holiday campaign, which has been developed with primary care providers, community services, Get to know your holiday healthcare options and acute care hospitals to make sure residents get the right treatment at the right time and place. A press release issued by the organizations stated every holiday season, thousands of people spend hours in the emergency department for injuries or illnesses that do not require emergency care. The release noted sometimes this happens because people don't know where else to go. Residents can visit the FeelBetterFaster.ca website to see a number of healthcare options that are available in their community during the holidays. "The Feel Better Faster community partnerships seek to promote access to care and reduce emergency wait times in the Mississauga Halton region. Knowing that you have care options over the holidays can help reduce your wait time for health services," said Graeme Goebelle, chair of the Mississauga Halton LHIN. "If it's not an emergency, you can often find care faster in the community instead of the hospital. The FeelBetterFaster.ca website is an excellent place to find information." The website can direct residents to the closest pharmacists, available family doctors and walk-in clinics. It can also provide residents with the holiday hours of mental health and addiction services, community support services, CCAC information and crisis lines for those in need of immediate assistance. Those unsure if they require medical assistance can contact Telehealth Ontario, the number provided on the website. To make it easier for residents to keep track of health services, the FeelBetterFaster.ca website now features a healthcare information sheet. Residents are encouraged to print it, fill in their personal health care information, and keep it handy for when they need it. "It is important to know the various treatment options in the community, and the Feel Better Faster initiative is a great resource to provide people with options during the holidays," said Dr. Lorne Martin, Halton Healthcare Services (HHS), Chief of Staff. Health 41 | Thursday, December 26, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Town boosts local accessibility by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff The installation of accessible playgrounds and the addition of specialized reading aids at Oakville library branches are just two things the Town of Oakville has done to increase access in the community. The Town's continued work concerning accessibility was outlined in an update of its Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2012-2017, which was presented to the Administrative Services Committee Dec. 3. The report was before council Dec. 16 for final approval. "Over one-and-a-half-million people in Ontario live with some form of disability," said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. "Our annual accessibility update report is a comprehensive look at our work over the last year to ensure everyone can fully participate in our vibrant community here in Oakville." The report describes the steps the Town is taking to meet provincial accessibility stan- dards and includes a detailed list of actions by Town departments over the past year. Accomplishments listed in the document include: installing five new transit shelters and 32 additional landing pads and walkways at transit stops; renovating pool changerooms at Iroquois Ridge and Glen Abbey community centres; installing new, accessible playgrounds at Sixteen Hollow Park, Lions Valley Park, Maple Valley Park, Lawson Park and Bayshire Woods Park; providing specialized reading aids at five Oakville library branches; offering delivery and pick-up services of library materials to 150 program users; and completing renovations to the front entrance and Service Oakville counter at Town Hall. The Town's Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2012-2017 was created in consultation with the Town of Oakville's Accessibility Advisory Committee. 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