An urgent care facility opened at Unity Health Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, this week. The centre increases access to healthcare for patients with urgent, non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses and reduces strain on emergency departments.

The urgent care location offers both walk-in services and appointments. Residents, with or without a primary care provider, can see nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and other staff to receive care for injuries, including sprains, strains, and minor breaks; skin infections, burns, and cuts; respiratory infections with fever, cough, or shortness of breath; stomach illnesses with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; and urinary tract infections.

The facility will also provide bloodwork, X-rays, casting, stitches, and other necessary treatments on site.

The site will soon house the new ambulatory health hub, which will provide appointment-based outpatient services, including an eye clinic, cardiac diagnostics, and adult outpatient anticoagulation management.

There is free parking for patients and staff at both the urgent care services and the ambulatory health hub. Officials plan to open another urgent care location on Topsail Road later this year.

“Increasing access to healthcare for all of us is one of the pillars of our new government,” said Minister of Health and Community Services Lela Evans. “The new urgent care centre provides quick medical care to residents with non-life-threatening conditions seven days a week. This will help reduce the number of people going to the emergency departments in St. John’s and we look forward to future plans for urgent care centres.”