For the third time in a month, the Regina Urgent Care Centre will operate with further reduced hours – before being outright closed for a day. On Friday, July 11, the centre will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Saturday, July 12, hours are further reduced to just four – from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. before being closed completely on Sunday, July 13. According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), the “temporary” adjustment is to accommodate “physician availability.” The health authority said residents who may need urgent care while the centre is closed should call 911 or visit the emergency departments at either Pasqua Hospital or Regina General. Staffing issues and service outages at the urgent care centre has long been a concern since its opening last July. The centre was supposed to be open 24/7 by this point. However, the SHA said earlier this week that it feels patient demand is being met between the centre and emergency rooms. Despite staffing concerns continually being raised by the NDP Opposition – the province plans to move forward with additional urgent care centres in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford.
|
