The new Britt and Area Nursing Station officially opened last week.
Over the last six years the community has rallied to finding the funding to build the new nursing station on its own land after 37 years operating out of a trailer on school property.
Since Britt’s nursing station opened others have followed suit including Pointe Au Baril in 1985 and Rosseau in 2004.
There can be an argument made for opening another nursing station clinic, right in Parry Sound.
Nursing stations give patients access to cost-effective timely primary health care in their communities.
When a patient goes to the nursing station is costs the province $70 versus the $150 if the same patient goes to emergency department.
There’s also the need to increase access to health care.
Some people have languished on a waiting list for their doctor for a couple weeks or even a month. And, if a patient can’t wait that long, they’re directed to the hospital’s emergency department where, depending on their level of need and how busy staff are, they could sit for hours.
Nursing stations often fit a patient in that day and in the slower winter months can accommodate walk-in patients.
Parry Sound doesn’t have a walk-in clinic. When someone calls Telehealth Ontario and speaks to a nurse they’re told to go to their doctor, walk-in, clinic or the emergency department.
A nursing station in Parry Sound could fill the void of a walk-in clinic.
Right now the province only funds rural nursing stations, but given the cost savings and the need for another access point for health care in Parry Sound there’s an argument to open up those rules.