The North Okanagan Medical Clinic located at Superstore.
Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW
July 06, 2023 - 6:00 PM
A Vernon walk-in clinic has announced it will be closing permanently.
The North Okanagan Medical Clinic, located at Superstore in Vernon, will shut its door for good at the end of September.
"We have been unable to secure enough physicians willing and able to work at this clinic to continue providing services from this clinic," a notice posted on its door states.
The clinic was forced to close its doors for a week early this year citing a lack of doctors and has also reduced its hours dramatically.
When it opened almost 18 years ago, it was open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Recently those hours had been reduced and for the last two months it was only open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The clinic's closure leaves just two other options for those without a family doctor, outside of going to a hospital emergency room.
The Sterling Centre Clinic on 25 Avenue is open for walk-ins from 12 noon to 7 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at weekends and holidays. The other option is the Vernon Urgent and Primary Care Centre which is not a walk-in clinic, but patients can call and make same-day appointments.
READ MORE: Why thousands of Thompson-Okanagan residents can’t find a family doctor
"We recognize this is concerning for patients and are working collaboratively with the Shuswap North Okanagan Division of Family Practice and community partners to support recruitment of additional primary care providers to Vernon," the Interior Heath Authority told iNFOnews.ca in a written statement.
It's hard to know how many people in Vernon don't have a family doctor, but across the province, one in five residents, about one million people, are without a family doctor.
Earlier this year, the provincial government introduced a new compensation mode that increased a full-time family doctor's salary to about $385,000 per year, up from $250,000.
Last month, changes were made allowing pharmacists to treat some minor ailments that previously had required patients to see a doctor and a website to book appointments was launched.
Patients can book online to see a pharmacist here.
To search for medical care in the region go here.
The North Okanagan Medical Clinic did not respond to iNFOnews.ca's request for comment.
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