Two Niagara urgent care centres set to cut back hours this summer

According to Niagara Health, both Fort Erie and Port Colborne urgent care centres will see reduced hours over the summer due to a critical shortage of available physicians.

“This is a physician shortage issue. And it’s not unique to Niagara. This is happening right across the province, right across the country and actually globally. So it is an issue that unfortunately has hit us,” said Chief of Staff for Niagara Health Dr. Kevin Chan.

Heather Kelley has lived in Fort Erie her whole life. She has three children and 14 grandchildren, and says she’s made good use of the urgent care centre over the years.

“As you can well imagine in the playground, rough housing, people fall down, get bumps, get bruises, and they need to be seen by someone other than grandma,” said Kelley.

Starting next month, Fort Erie closures will take place on Fridays and Port Colborne on Saturdays.

But starting in July, the urgent care centre in Fort Erie will have less operating hours – along with the urgent care centre in Port Colborne.

Both urgent care centres will be closed on Canada Day and over the Labour Day long weekend. Fort Erie will also be closed for the civic holiday long weekend, August 1–4.

Niagara Health says the rotating closures at the urgent care centers will ensure the three emergency departments in Niagara can stay open.

READ MORE: Ontario health advocates call on province for more funding to solve staffing crisis

“Our thought process was to do this in a planned fashion, rather than a haphazard fashion where some days are open, and some days are closed,” said Chan.

But some residents say it is not good enough.

“This is very stressful for our community … and almost half do not have a family doctor. And so where do they go? They are going to go to the urgent care,” said Niagara Health Chair Sue Hotte.

Niagara Health says the rotating closures between the two urgent care centers will go until mid September. Whether or not they re-open will be re-evaluated in August.

“Niagara region is growing by leaps and bounds in terms of population. You’ve got Fort Erie which is growing at a rate of 3 per cent per year for the last three years,” said Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop.

Niagara Health plans on closing both urgent care centers in Fort Erie and Port Colborne permanently in 2028 when the new South Niagara Hospital in Niagara Falls opens.

CORRECTION: A doctor associated with Niagara Health mistakenly told CHCH News that Niagara has five emergency departments. There are three emergency departments – in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland. The urgent care centres are in Port Colborne and Fort Erie.

READ MORE: Ontario healthcare workers gather at Queen’s Park to protest emergency centre closures