Regina Urgent Care Centre to close early Saturday
Centre originally intended to be open 24/7, but has never achieved those hours
Regina's only urgent care centre will close its doors five and a half hours early Saturday, at 4 p.m. CST.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced the change in hours on Friday, saying the centre's regular 9:30 p.m. close time will resume on Sunday.
The province did not provide a reason for the reduced hours in its initial announcement. It asked people to go to Regina General Hospital or Pasqua Hospital if they experience a medical emergency during the centre's early closure.
The care centre acts as an alternative to hospital emergency rooms, treating non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, and providing mental health support.
When it opened in July 2024, it was Saskatchewan's first urgent care centre. The government said the centre would transition to a 24/7 model by fall, but that promise has yet to be fulfilled.
In response to this weekend's reduced hours, the Opposition NDP called for the Saskatchewan Party to better fund health care and properly staff the Regina Care Centre.
"The Sask. Party says it's building more urgent care centres, but it can't even staff the centre that is already open," an NDP statement said.
The centre previously temporarily reduced its hours in December 2024.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
