Urgent Treatment Centre to Open in Parrsboro
Residents of Parrsboro and surrounding communities will soon have local access to urgent healthcare treatment.
Starting mid-December, the Parrsboro Urgent Treatment Centre, located at South Cumberland Community Care Centre, will provide care for people with unexpected, non-life-threatening health concerns that require same or next day treatment. Some examples include earaches, sore throat, minor cuts, strains and sprains, and mild mental health support.
The centre is available to people with or without a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
“We need to find new and innovative ways to deliver healthcare to Nova Scotians,” said Premier Tim Houston. “Urgent treatment centres help ease the burden on our hospitals and provide timely care to those without a family doctor who have health concerns. I look forward to seeing more of these across the province.”
This new model of care will replace the collaborative emergency centre at South Cumberland Community Care Centre that closed in March 2020 to support operational and public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The urgent treatment centre will differ from an emergency department in several ways: care provided is for non-life-threatening injuries and illness; ambulances do not bring patients to the centre; service is available by appointment (usually either same day or next day) or walk in. Patients requiring emergency care should continue to call 911.
A public education session about the new centre is planned for December 8 at 6 p.m. at the Parrsboro Fire Hall. Due to COVID-19 gathering limits, registration is required. Nova Scotia Health will provide registration information soon. Proof of vaccination will be required for attendance and masks must be worn.
Quotes:
“Nova Scotians have been clear about the need to improve access to primary healthcare in this province. We know that many patients in our hospitals’ emergency departments are seen for non-urgent health concerns because they feel like there is no other option. This new urgent treatment centre will give a more accessible, timely and appropriate option for the people of Cumberland South to receive care for their unexpected urgent health needs.”
– Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness
“Our team is excited to introduce this new innovative model to Parrsboro, Advocate Harbour and surrounding communities. The service model reflects the healthcare needs of the community and will provide timely and predictable care where and when people need it most. Patients need flexible options when accessing care and the urgent treatment centre provides this.”
– Dr. Aaron Smith, Medical Executive Director, Northern Zone, Nova Scotia Health
“Having been without urgent care on the Parrsboro Shore for the past 20 months, the community of Parrsboro is pleased and relieved that we will soon have this service available again in our area. As a community, we appreciate the work that has been done by all stakeholders to make this a reality and look forward to the opening and ongoing evaluation of this service to ensure we continue to receive the best urgent care possible as needs evolve in the future.”
– John Crant, President, Parrsboro and District Board of Trade
About the Parrsboro Urgent Treatment Centre:
The centre will operate five days a week, including early evenings and one weekend day. Patients can book an appointment or go to the centre in person, where they will be assessed by a doctor or nurse practitioner to determine if they will be scheduled for an appointment, usually later that day or the next day.
Additional Resources:
To learn more about the Parrsboro Urgent Treatment Centre, visit: https://www.nshealth.ca/urgenttreatment