The Minden Hospital’s emergency department has closed its doors, but services could find their way back sooner rather than later.
The Kawartha North Family Health Team (KNFHT) has requested funding from Ontario Health to run a proposed urgent care clinic at the former ER. Urgent care services are for people who have unexpected but non-life-threatening health concerns that usually require same-day treatment.
The “expression of interest” is for nurse practitioners and registered practical nurses, with the hope that physicians would join in the future.
KNFHT says they will be looking to consult with physicians and stakeholders to identify priority times, but will be limiting service to eight hours per day, seven days per week for now. Should future opportunities present themselves, officials say 24/7 coverage could be implemented.
As of Thursday morning, anyone seeking emergency medical attention at the Minden Hospital is being directed to the Haliburton site.
**Written by Rick Lowes and Martin Halek