Over 4,400 treated in first 6 weeks at Regina Urgent Care Centre

The newly operational Regina Urgent Care Centre has treated more than 4,400 patients since its opening on July 2.

On average, 107 people received care at the centre per day – the majority of which for urgent but non-life-threatening health issues.

According to the province, nearly 180 patients received mental health and addictions support at the centre.

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More than 250 patients were connected to resources in the community while 320 patients were transferred to hospital for high-level care.

The most common illnesses and injuries at the centre included:

• Abdominal pain
• Cough and congestion
• Cuts requiring stitches
• And suspected broken bones needing an X-ray

Approximately 60 per cent of patients received on-site lab/diagnostic services including 150 ultrasounds, 100 x-rays and 1,200 lab services.

The patients come from Regina and the surrounding area, taking some pressure off the two emergeny departments in the city. The SHA says they are learning and adapting to this new model of health care in the province. 

“We’ve seen quite a high demand, for instance, people coming in the morning. And so we’ve just had to adjust some of our processes to ensure there is less of a wait time in the morning when we’ve seen a bit of a line up of five to 10 people who are coming in the first 10 minutes it’s open. And so that is quite a demand to get those patients registered and triaged,” said Tom Stewart, executive director of acute care for the SHA.

The Urgent Care Centre plans to go 24 hours a day sometime this fall. In the meantime, some people are being turned away when the facility closes at 9:30 p.m. 

- With files from Gareth Dillistone