The planned urgent and primary care clinic in Williams Lake is opening its doors, and the community is clearly excited.
Posts on social media have been sharing the Interior Health's website page on the Williams Lake Urgent and Primary Care Clinic (UPCC), as Interior Health (IH) works with community partners on an official opening.
While Interior Health had not yet announced the centre was open, the IH website had a listing for the Williams Lake UPCC and the centre was already seeing clients, it appears, with people lined up outside the door over lunch hour. IH had announced there will be an official opening on Friday, Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m., inviting city officials, Williams Lake First Nation leaders, media and others to attend.
UPCCs are clinics which provide non-emergency care for people needing medical attention within 12 to 24 hours. According to IH's page on the Williams Lake centre, which will be located at 47 Cameron Street at Mackenzie Avenue, will provide both in-person and virtual primary care.
"The UPCC offers team-based care for health concerns such as sprains, cuts, fevers, and minor infections," states the IH page.
Patients needing emergency care are asked to call 911 or go to the emergency department.
UPCCs use a range of healthcare professionals including medical office assistants, family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, Indigenous patient navigators, physiotherapists and social workers.
For those without a family physician or nurse practitioner for those who do not yet have a primary care provider, UPCCs can provide ongoing care and assist in connecting patients with care providers.
According to the IH page for the Williams Lake UPCC, patients will be seen from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., seven days a week including holidays. Patients will be able to access the UPCC through in-person walk-in appointments and more urgent cases may be prioritized as necessary.
The Tribune has sent an inquiry to Interior Health for more information on the centre, but had not immediately heard back.
