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November 21, 2023 - 12:30 PM
Healthcare in Rutland is set to become more accessible with two new health centres opening to the community.
A new urgent and primary care centre and a community health centre have been opened as of Nov. 20 and will offer new healthcare options to the people of Rutland, according to a news release.
"People living in Rutland and surrounding communities will directly benefit from increased access to health-care services delivered through a new urgent and primary care centre and a new community health centre," Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, said in the release. "Integrating physicians, nurses and allied health professionals means patients can receive timely and comprehensive team-based care. These two centres are examples of our continued work to increase access to primary care services."
The urgent and primary care centre will offer care for those who have non-life-threatening conditions and must see a healthcare professional within 12 to 24 hours. The centre will also help get more patients attached to ongoing team-based primary care services which include mental health support.
The centre is opening gradually: until Nov. 29, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 7: from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. From then on, it will be operating on normal hours from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily for urgent care and, for longitudinal care, it will be open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"With the opening of Interior Health's ninth urgent and primary care centre, we are demonstrating our commitment to connecting more patients with timely and comprehensive care," Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health, said in the release. "Residents of Rutland will have additional access to a team of expert health-care professionals who can address immediate health concerns and offer support for long-term health-care needs."
Once the whole team is hired, the centre will have 33 full-time healthcare staff including family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and a community health worker.
The centre will be operated by Interior Health and will collaborate with the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice. The Rutland urgent and primary care centre is a result of collaboration between Interior Health, the Ministry of Health, Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District, the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice and local Indigenous partners such as the Okanagan Nation Alliance.
"We look forward to working with Rutland UPCC through the Rutland and Lake Country Primary Care Network to improve patients' access to primary care and minimize barriers to care. Primary Care Networks in our region is a joint initiative between local Indigenous partners, Interior Health and Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice," Dr. Christine Hoppe, physician lead at the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice, said in the release.
The Province supported the opening of the new community health centre by providing a one-time operational fund of $5.5 million to the Okanagan Family Medicine. This centre will begin by focusing on women’s health and other underserved populations in Rutland. Once fully operational, it will be open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"The opening of Rutland (community health centre) stands as a statement of support for marginalized communities in the Rutland area," Milt Stevenson, co-developer of Okanagan Community Health Society, said in the release. "We look forward to providing a dedicated space which will ensure accessible care and inclusivity for underserved populations."
The community health centre is community-governed by the Okanagan Family Medicine and the Community Health Centre Society with support from Interior Health and the Ministry of Health. It is a not-for-profit organization.
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