Sydney walk-in clinic moves to new location Monday

A well-used after-hours clinic for thoseunable to see their familydoctor or whodon't have one is moving and will open Monday at the HealthPark nearthe Cape Breton Regional Hospital.

"The proximity to the hospital is beneficial to the patients[because]they can self-triage in situations where there's a lower priority item that does not require waiting in the emergency room for several hours to be seen by a physician," says Dr. Dale Miller, the hospital's medical site lead.

"It'd be easier for them just to decide to walk over to the walk-in clinic and be seen there in a quicker time frame."

The clinic operated for many years in the privately-owned Medical Arts Building on Kings Road.

The landlord was notified several months ago that the health authority would not extend its lease when the time came.The lease expires on Friday.

Miller said the clinic is used by a wide variety of people, including those who have a family doctor.

"It could be the working mom who takes the child to the doctor at nighttime because they have an earache," he said. "It could be the person that does not have a family doctor and is running out of their blood pressure medication."

The clinic also bridges the gap for people who lose their family doctor, said Miller.

"It's nosecret that we're in a bit of a crunch right now with a lack of family physicians, with relocations and retirements, and our recruitment is an ongoing process," he said.

The clinic will be located in Suite 207 of the HealthPark.

The Well Women's Clinic in the Medical Arts Building will be moving with the walk-in clinic toHealthPark.