Gartree Medical Clinic is located in the Vernon Square Mall on 32 Street.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
January 11, 2016 - 9:00 PM
VERNON - Access to medical care continues to shrink in Vernon.
Shortly after it was learned the Vernon Family Doctor’s Walk-In Clinic is closing down permanently, news has come that another walk-in clinic has drastically cut its hours.
The Gartree Medical Clinic in the Vernon Square Mall has reduced its hours to 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday. The clinic used to be open until 6 p.m. Weekend hours remain the same, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The clinic’s doctors weren’t available for an interview Monday, Jan. 11, however other media reports say the clinic was forced to reduce its hours after losing one of its physicians.
Vernon councillor Scott Anderson says it’s a big concern for the community.
“It’s unfortunate, we’ll do whatever we can to help mitigate it,” Anderson says. “I know there’s a doctor shortage here.”
Once the Vernon Family Doctor’s Walk-In closes, the city will be left with only two walk-in clinics, Gartree Medical and the North Okanagan Medical Clinic at the Superstore.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016