West Hamilton urgent care centre reopens to patients today

The West End Urgent Care Centre (UCC) in Hamilton reopened to patients on Thursday (March 24) after being closed since mid-January as staff were redeployed to help with COVID-19 efforts.

The unit closed on January 17, 2022, just as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was fuelling increased transmission and hospitalizations across the community.

As the UCC reopens to the public, Hamilton Health Sciences is reminding residents of the services and access to care available to them at this site.

“If you’re experiencing an illness or injury that isn’t an emergency, but can’t wait for an appointment with a family doctor, an urgent care centre is a good option for you,” said Dr. Kuldeep Sidhu, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).

Urgent care centres are staffed by emergency department-trained doctors and nurses and can provide you with faster access to a doctor, rather than waiting in the ER (based on average wait times).

The following conditions typically require urgent care:

• Minor cuts or wounds that may require stitches
• Simple broken bones, sprains, strains or deep bruises
• Ear infections
• Fevers, coughs, congestion, and sore throats
• Insect bites, rashes and scrapes

The UCC is open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week and no appointment is necessary.

More information on urgent and emergency care, visit Hamilton Health Science’s website.