Prairie North Health Region announced Wednesday that beginning Monday, Nov. 9 patients will have access to walk-in medical services at the Twin City Medical Clinic at 1102 - 103rd St. in North Battleford.
Two new physicians will be available to see patients on a walk-in basis between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays (holidays excepted).
As more physicians are recruited, PNHR adds, the intent is to expand the clinic hours.
“We are very excited to be able to offer this much-needed service to Battlefords and area residents,” said Vikki Smart, vice-president of Primary Health Services for PNHR. “The new walk-in service will provide patients an alternative to using the Battlefords Union Hospital Emergency Department to meet their everyday, non-urgent health care needs.”
According to the news release, the new walk-in service brings new doctors to the community. In addition to the walk-in services they will provide, the two physicians will be accepting new patients and establishing their own caseloads. Individuals wishing to contact the walk-in clinic and the new physicians for walk-in services or appointments are encouraged to call the clinic at 306-446-8440, beginning Monday, Nov. 9.
“Please join us in welcoming Dr. Phillips Eraga and Dr. Afolabi Olayinka to the Battlefords,” said Smart.
“It’s great to start working in North Battleford,” said Dr. Eraga and Dr. Olayinka. “We look forward to contributing to the development of the health services in the community and at large.”
Prairie North Health Region has purchased the private clinic that has been in operation for many years. Dr. W.G.C. Lipsett will continue to practice medicine at the Twin City Medical Clinic, seeing his patients by appointment only. He can continue to be reached at 306-445-1066.
“I welcome Drs. Eraga and Olayinka to our community. I am pleased and optimistic that they and the new walk-in clinic service will benefit patients through greater access to prompt, efficient and quality care,” stated Dr. Lipsett.
PNHR extends appreciation to the former owners of the clinic for their support of the region’s efforts to enhance patient services and establish a patient walk-in service at the 103rd Street and 11th Avenue location.
“The building and site is perfect for this purpose,” said Smart. “It’s just a few blocks west of the Prairie North Health Region hospital along a main roadway that’s well known to local residents. The building’s easy to see, with available parking, and is already a fully functional, well designed medical clinic.”
Smart added, “The walk-in service will be available to everyone. We anticipate it will reduce patient waits and take some of the pressure off the BUH Emergency Department that currently sees about 30,000 patients annually. Data shows that about half these patients could get their care needs met by a family physician in a clinic setting.”
The new walk-in clinic will offer patients that option, reducing wait times in the emergency department and leaving it to provide the emergency care in which it specializes. Patients requiring emergency care for serious illness or injury are still advised to come to the BUH Emergency Department, which is open 24 hours a day.
Developing a new physician clinic with walk-in, evening and weekend access for patients in North Battleford was one of the highlights of Prairie North's 2015-16 operating budget of $278.5 million.
