Chester residents will have a tougher time getting in to see a doctor.
The Our Health Centre has announced they will be cutting their walk-in clinic hours in half beginning January 21.
Two of the four doctors who staff the walk-in clinic are taking time off.
General Manager Lorraine Burch says it’s a matter of doctor availability.
“Everybody knows the issue with the shortage of doctors in our province. We just haven’t been able to find back-up doctors. So, for those nine weeks, we won’t be able to be open on Friday and Saturday.”
Burch says they’ve had doctors express interest in covering the shifts.
But because they are salaried, they are not permitted.
“Doctors who are on salary, at this point, are prohibited from working outside their salaried hours at a clinic that would be a fee-for-service clinic.”
Our Health Centre’s walk-in will operate Tuesday morning from 9:30am to 1:30pm and from 1:00pm to 5:00pm Wednesday afternoons.
Burch says the hours will remain in effect until the doctors return April 1.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
