Maidstone and area residents will soon have improved access to the primary health care services of physicians and nurse practitioners, according to a Prairie North Health Region press release.
Effective Jan. 2 the hours of operation of the Maidstone Primary Health Care (Medical) Clinic are being expanded to serve patients an additional four hours per day Mondays through Thursdays, plus introduction of Saturday morning hours.
"That's an additional 20 hours per week when patients who typically seek care from Maidstone physicians and nurse practitioners can see a doctor or NP at the clinic," says Charlotte Hamilton, director of Primary Health PNHR)
Patients will be seen by appointment only and can contact the clinic at 306-893-2689. According to the health region, when patients call for an appointment, they are to be offered to see a doctor or nurse practitioner the same day of the call or the next day.
"We will do our very best to meet this commitment," Hamilton assures. "We are particularly pleased to be able to offer this same-day or next-day service to patients. We greatly appreciate the co-operation and support of our physicians, nurse practitioners, and clinic staff in accepting this challenge and delivering on this target."
Hamilton stresses the Maidstone clinic and its extended hours are not a walk-in clinic nor an emergency treatment centre. The Maidstone Health Complex Emergency Department remains closed.
The Primary Health Care Clinic services in Maidstone are intended for people who typically seek care from the Maidstone physicians and nurse practitioners. This includes residents of Maidstone, Lashburn, Waseca, Paynton, Paradise Hill, Frenchman Butte, Cut Knife, Neilburg, Marsden, and surrounding rural and First Nation communities.
Hamilton emphasizes the goal is to stabilize and strengthen primary health care services in Maidstone so that those served by the Maidstone Primary Care group have consistent, sustainable services to meet their everyday health needs.
"We are grateful to the physicians, nurse practitioners, and staff of the Maidstone clinic for their leadership, collaboration, and commitment to delivering better care through improved patient access. We also thank the Town of Maidstone and Rural Municipality of Eldon for their cooperation and support," concludes Hamilton.
