Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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In a statement from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Regina Urgent Care Centre (UCC) will be closing at 4 p.m. on Friday, due to an “unanticipated physician absence.”
Tuesday’s hours will also be reduced to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., due to physician availability, noted the health authority.
Read more:
- Alert issued after Regina sees three overdose deaths between Tuesday and Wednesday
- One person taken to hospital after fire at Regina home on New Year’s Day
- What you need to know about Saskatchewan’s first urgent care centre
The Regina Urgent Care Centre will return to its regular hours of operation of 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. the following days on Jan. 3 and Jan. 7.
When the UCC is closed, patients who have medical emergencies should call 9-1-1- or visit their nearest hospital emergency department at either Regina General Hospital or Pasqua Hospital, according to the health authority.
For patients needing non-emergency medical care, contact HealthLine 811 or a pharmacy.
In July 2025, the UCC also announced a reduction of hours on July 6, but did not provide a reason for the shortened hours. The centre also reduced its hours on June 14, but didn’t indicate why.
The centre’s current regular hours are 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week.
What is the purpose of the urgent care centre?
The Regina Urgent Care Centre is designed to provide another option for those who need urgent, non-emergency care. It is meant to help those who can’t access their primary care provider on short notice while avoiding emergency department visits for care that can be provided in another setting.
The health authority predicted the centre would divert 55 patients away from emergency rooms each day. As the centre is the first of its kind in the province, the health authority said adjustments will be made to match the needs of patients using the facility.
Who is meant to use the urgent care centre?
Anyone can use the urgent care centre. It is not a first-come, first-served basis of care, and patients are seen based on urgency.
The big question for many is when to use the urgent care centre or head to the hospital.
The urgent care centre is for serious but non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses like cuts, burns, sprains, breaks, mental health issues, flu cases and addictions services. Anyone experiencing more serious symptoms like chest pain, breathing problems or a life-threatening emergency should call 911 immediately.
What services are offered at the urgent care centre?
Along with the mental health and addictions unit, the urgent care centre offers many on-site services including casting, crutches, X-rays, blood testing, ultrasound and more.
Staff are also prepared if a patient is sicker than they thought or deteriorates quickly. The centre is equipped with an ECG machine, a crash cart and a pediatric crash cart. Staff have all been trained in emergency care, allowing them to stabilize and transfer a patient if required.
The urgent care centre is also equipped with eye wash and shower stations. In the event of a bear spray incident, the centre can vent out the chemicals to avoid spreading it to the rest of the clinic.
Read more:
- Alert issued after Regina sees three overdose deaths between Tuesday and Wednesday
- One person taken to hospital after fire at Regina home on New Year’s Day
- What you need to know about Saskatchewan’s first urgent care centre
— with files from Nicole Garn, 980 CJME
