Regina's Urgent Care Centre now seeing patients
Regina’s new Urgent Care Centre is now up and running. The facility, located at 1320 Albert St. had a full parking lot on its first day of operation.
The $18.7 million facility is currently operating from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week, with plans to operate 24 hours once staffing is fully complimented.
According to the provincial government, staffing is underway and installation of equipment and furnishing will take place over the coming weeks. The facility, once fully staffed, is intended to host 130 employees.
The centre is intended for urgent, non-emergent patients, with non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
Executive Director of Acute Care for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Tom Stewart said the facility welcomed a steady stream of patients during its inaugural day.
“We’ve had a really steady flow of patients throughout the day. I think as of 3:00 p.m., we’ve seen about 70 patients come in and register to be seen at the clinic," he said. "So we have a great team of staff that are working on site and really happy to be able to deliver this new service.”
"Certainly as we've opened, there's little things we’ve found that we could tweak and adjust, so it’s really given us an opportunity to do those things as we look to progress towards fully opening," he added.
Additionally, the centre is equipped to help those dealing with crisis's relating to mental health and addictions.
The centre has two separate entrances for these different types of care.
The facility also has a designated space for smudging.
Prior to the centre’s opening, the SHA did consult with the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) as to how the province could most effectively staff the centre.
“I think it’s probably going to be a challenge seeing as the entire healthcare system has that challenge,” SUN President Tracy Zambory told CTV News.
“We did express some concern about staffing, and they really stepped up and are doing their level best to get fully staffed registered nursing. They have more than what they did before, so we think that’s a step in the right direction.”
NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat added onto SUN's concerns, claiming that new personnel for certain facilities are actually sourced from within the health care system.
“We’re consistently hearing that they’re actually recruiting from the hospital system, so it’s really just shuffling around human resources at a time when we need more people entering into the system," she said.
Construction of the project began in the spring of 2022, with the provincial government contributing $9.82 million in its 2024-25 budget in addition to ongoing funding of $17.82 million annually.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6562861.1720110688!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Trying to sell or buy a home this summer? What a realtor says you should know
In the first few weeks of summer, the real estate sector is experiencing an upturn marked by more housing inventory, a Canadian realtor says
What you need to know about a possible LCBO strike on Friday
Ontarians could see long lineups at LCBO stores across the province today as customers prepare for a possible strike that will close all LCBO locations for the next two weeks.
Nathan's hot dog eating contest: Bertoletti eats 58 hot dogs to claim Mustard Belt, Sudo wins 10th women's title
Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago has won his first men’s title at the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, while dental hygiene student Miki Sudo of Florida has won her 10th title.
No Frills grocery stores drop 'multi-buy' offer
As receipts tick ever higher for Canadians at the grocery store and shoppers continue to search for savings, one Canadian grocer has ended a perceived deal.
Victoria and David Beckham recreate their wedding day photos 25 years later
The British power couple got hitched in 1999, fusing the worlds of fashion and football forever. While their marriage has endured 25 years later, the pair have come to regret some of the minor details of their big day.
Hurricane Beryl churns toward Mexico after leaving destruction in Jamaica and eastern Caribbean
Hurricane Beryl ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95 per cent of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling past the Cayman Islands early Thursday and taking aim at Mexico's Caribbean coast. At least nine people were killed.
Son asks court to sell B.C. home he co-owns with his mother, despite her objections
A B.C. judge has ordered the sale of a Surrey home despite the objections of the woman who lives there, who owns it jointly with her son.
Will Justin Trudeau step down, or stay on? Survey shows what Canadians think
A majority of Canadians think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will stay on to lead his party in the next election even as his approval ratings are still extremely low, a new poll suggests.
Ottawa landlord left with hefty bill after tenant trashes rental property
A landlord in Ottawa is facing thousands of dollars in repairs after his tenant left his only rental property damaged and disorderly.