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People seeking medical assistance in Regina soon will have another option.
The Saskatchewan government said Tuesday that construction on the new Regina Urgent Care Centre (UCC) at 1320 Albert St. is complete, with the installation and testing of equipment and the furnishing of the building to happen in the coming weeks.
Staff recruitment also is underway, the government noted.
“Improving access to health care for Saskatchewan residents is a top priority for our government,” Health Minister Everett Hindley said in a media release.
“The Regina Urgent Care Centre will provide a more suitable option for urgent health concerns that can’t wait until tomorrow, reserving Emergency Departments for treatment of life-threatening health conditions. I look forward to returning this summer for the grand opening event.”
Construction on the care centre began in 2022 and initially was expected to be completed in mid-2023.
It’s to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will offer treatment of minor illnesses and injuries that require immediate attention.
Its services will include: Suturing, casting and the treatment of sprains; treatment of infections, fevers, flu symptoms, rashes and dehydration and mild to moderate asthma; basic diagnostic imaging and laboratory services; and mental health and addictions services.
The Mental Health and Addictions Unit will have its own dedicated entrance at the building and an intake/waiting area for discreet and confidential support.
“We are excited to have reached this significant milestone in the construction of the UCC and look forward to improving access to care for patients through this innovative care model,” Saskatchewan Health Authority chief executive officer Andrew Will said in the release.
“The UCC provides members of the public with a new alternative for seeking care, including those needing mental health and addictions support.”
Nurses in the province have raised concerns about staffing issues in hospitals, so it’s not clear if and how that issue will affect staffing at the urgent care centres in Regina and Saskatoon.
The Hospitals of Regina Foundation invested $2.4 million in the Regina Urgent Care Centre project, funding all the technology, equipment, furniture and fixtures in the building. The Kinsmen Foundation put up $305,250 to pay for the centre’s X-ray system.
The provincial government put $9.82 million in the 2024-25 budget for the centre and is to provide funding of $17.82 million annually for physicians, staffing and non-salary.
The government said the centre is slated to open this summer once staff are in place and training has been completed.