Port Colborne Urgent Care closes Saturday night due to staffing shortage

Port Colborne residents needing urgent care this weekend will have to find another location.

Niagara Health says staffing shortages will force the closure of the Port Colborne Urgent Care Centre on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. to Oct. 9 at 8 a.m.

In a statement Wednesday, the hospital says the temporary shutdown is a “measure of last resort.”

“Despite exhaustive efforts, including seeking assistance from our partners outside of Niagara, we have been unable to safely staff the Port Colborne UCC during this time period,” it says in a release.

The hospital is reminding people to only visit the emergency department when in need of serious medical attention.

It recommends residents contact their primary care provider, go to a walk-in clinic, call Health Connect Ontario at 811 to speak with a registered nurse at any time or visit the Fort Erie UCC at 230 Bertie St.

The hospital also has a new virtual urgent care service Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled online at UrgentCareOntario.ca, however, it is closed on Thanksgiving Monday.

“Niagara Health continues to face immense pressures, and like hospitals across the province we are aligning our services to our available staffing levels. We are looking at all options to prioritize the delivery of safe, quality care for patients while supporting the wellness of our staff and physicians,” the health system says.

“We understand the inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and ask for the public’s understanding and patience.”