A private walk-in clinic in Sahali, located a block from Thompson Rivers University, will close this summer.
Kamloops Urgent Care Clinic, which is located at #4-910 West Columbia St., behind the Real Canadian Superstore, will close permanently on June 30, Dr. Chris Janz of the Thompson Region Division of Family Practice said in a statement:
“Regrettably, after serving the residents of Kamloops and area for 15 years, the Kamloops Urgent Care Clinic is closing permanently due to a physician capacity shortage,” Janz said.
“During this time, it was our privilege to serve some 20,000 people.”
Initially, the plan was to close the clinic on April 30; however, Janz said successful interim recruitment efforts allowed postponement of the closure until the summer.
Interior Health said it is working with the Thompson Division of Family Practice to “ensure community members who have previously attended this clinic are able to access appropriate services in the community, including those available through the Kamloops Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre.”
Kamloops Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre is located on the ground floor of Royal Inland Hospital’s Clinical Services Building downtown and is intended for patients who require medical attention for less serious injuries (not considered emergent) within 12 to 24 hours.
Interior Health did not respond to a question about whether sufficient resources will be available to cover the loss of the private clinic.
Walk-in clinics are typically accessed by patients without a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
In December of 2018, another walk-in clinic also closed down the road in Sahali.
Summit Medical Clinic was formerly located at the corner of Notre Dame Drive and Summit Drive, but shuttered its doors, with a local physician shortage cited among the reasons.
Those without a family doctor can call HealthLink BC at 811 to speak with someone about how to find a family doctor.
