The Sterling Centre walk-in clinic closed Nov. 15. (submitted photo/Sterling Centre)

By Liam Verster

No more walk-ins

Vernon councillor urges residents to voice concerns about walk-in clinic closure

Nov 20, 2023 | 2:03 PM

A Vernon city councillor has expressed concern with the lack of health care services following the closure of the city’s last walk-in clinic, and is urging others to voice their concerns as well.

The Sterling Centre Clinic closed its doors Wednesday, Nov. 15, and Councillor Teresa Durning said the closure was “frustrating.”

Health care is overseen by the province and does not fall within the municipality’s jurisdiction, but Durning said it was still an issue affecting residents and she may be going “out of her lane” to raise those concerns, but would still do that.

“I think in a lot of ways we have an obligation — even though it isn’t something we control or something in our purview — we absolutely have an obligation to advocate for the citizens of Vernon when it comes to provincial or federal support,” Durning told Vernon Matters.

She is recommending people reach out and express their concerns with the province.

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“Contact the MLA in writing, contact the MLA by phone, MLA Harwinder Sandhu. That’s her job, to advocate for the citizens, and I think that the citizens need to be contacting her regarding this or contacting the Minister [of Health]. That is the very best way. That’s what I will do and that’s what I hope the citizens will also do.”

The Sterling Centre Clinic was a private practice, but Durning said it should still have been on the radar and action should have been taken to ensure Vernon and area residents did not see health care services decline.

“The province knew far in advance that the walk-in clinic was in trouble, so they would have known that they needed extra supports at emergency because that clinic was closing,” Durning said.

When it was announced that the clinic would be closing, Interior Health stated health care services would still be provided locally through the Primary Urgent Care Centre and at Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s emergency department.

Durning, however, expressed issue with the Urgent Primary Care facility, noting it is an appointment-based system and not always staffed with a doctor who can perform necessary medical procedures.

She said that leaves the hospital as the only real option for local care.

“I think pushing more of the population into the hospital emergency room is not the answer, and it’s not in the best interest of our citizens,” Durning said, adding that wait times at VJH are “not as bad as in the big centres,” but people will still need to wait for treatment in the ER.

“[The local health care workers] do amazing work and work very hard, they are just threadbare labour wise. They only have a limited capacity. I think all the health care workers are working hard and it’s sad to see any kind of contract or non-contract support for them being diminished like that. I’m disappointed, and I’m disappointed there wasn’t better advocacy to keep the clinic open.”

She again reiterated that the city has no power to oversee health care services locally, but still said she would be advocating for enhanced services as much as she could and encouraged people to the same.

“I would be overstepping and really out of bounds by going any further than that, but [Sandhu] is my person and I will keep going to her and I will keep pressing because we need that service in our city,” Durning said.

“She’s my go-to and I need to utilize that and the citizens need to utilize that. She’s elected for that reason.”

Vernon Matters has reached out MLA Harwinder Sandhu for comment on the closure of the city’s last walk-in clinic, and what that means for health care in the city going forward.

Interior Health said last week it recognizes the impact of the closure of Sterling Centre Clinic’s for Vernon and area residents and says many people will have questions on what the closure means to accessing care in Vernon.

“While long-term plans are underway, community members can continue to access primary care services through their family doctors, family nurse practitioners or book same-day urgent care appointments at the Vernon Urgent and Primary Care Centre,” the authority said.

The centre is located at 3105 28th Avenue and the phone number is (250) 541-1097.

Related: Interior Health issues advice on accessing care in Vernon with no more walk-in clinics