The N.L. government is opening another urgent-care clinic — with staff TBD
CBC
The provincial government plans to create an urgent-care clinic in the St. John's region — though it isn't certain where staff will come from.
Health Minister Tom Osborne made the pre-budget announcement on Tuesday, saying the urgent care clinic, which provides care for "unexpected, non-life threatening concerns" will help relieve pressure on emergency rooms.
"Our emergency departments have been overburdened, and many of the cases presenting to our emergency departments are lower-level acuity — they can easily be dealt with with an urgent-care centre," he said while speaking with reporters.
Osborne said the urgent-care clinic in St. John's, which he said will open by the end of April 2024, will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone, online and walk-in appointments will be available, he said.
He expected the clinic to serve approximately 100 people a day, and 36,500 people per year.
Osborne said the provincial government is looking to rent an existing building for the 20,000 square foot facility, which will include 20 exam rooms, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services.
During a technical briefing, officials said the facility will cost $900,000 to open, with an annual operating cost of $4 million.
On Tuesday, the provincial government issued a request for proposals for the building. The RFP process will last until April 27.
Osborne said the clinic staff will have about 15 full time-equivalent positions including doctors, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, x-ray and laboratory technicians and administration.
He said Eastern Health is working on recruiting for those positions.
"We are hopeful that we've seen the worst of our health-care shortage challenges and we're going to start being able to staff up with the recruitment efforts we've seen," he said.
But Paul Dinn, Progressive Conservative health critic, questioned if the provincial government will be able to find the staff.
"Where are they getting the people?" he asked.
"This all comes down to missing the boat on what the real issue is here, and that's having sufficient…health care workers to do the job."
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