Hamilton Health Sciences says that in anticipation of the upcoming cold and flu season, they are increasing capacity levels and staffing at some hospitals, including the West End Urgent Care Centre.
Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu, Chief of Emergency Room Medicine, explains that the West End Urgent Care Centre is designed for health concerns that can’t wait for a family doctor.
Starting next Thursday on Halloween, the Urgent Care Centre on Main Street West will offer four additional hours of care per day. The new hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
The goal is to relieve some pressure on emergency departments.
Dr. Sidhu explained that patients with manageable illnesses, such as a controllable cough or fever, as well as those with a history of asthma experiencing breathing difficulties, should consider visiting the Urgent Care Centre.
The facility has triage and registration processes similar to those found in emergency departments, allowing triage nurses to assess whether patients require immediate care or if they need stabilization before being referred to the emergency room.
However, he emphasized that certain situations necessitate direct visits to the hospital. For instance, individuals experiencing chest pain, those who have sustained a head injury while on blood thinners, or those with a history of heart or lung issues should seek emergency care, as these are serious conditions that require prompt attention.
For wait times at the Urgent Care Centre, as well as all hospitals in Hamilton, you can visit HamiltonEmergencyWaitTimes.ca.
