New walk-in set to open on heels of Vernon clinic closure

VERNON – With one walk-in doctor’s clinic set to close at the end of the week, a new one is opening its doors to fill the void.

The Vernon Family Doctors Clinic located in the Fruit Union Plaza closes for good Saturday, March 19. With only two other walk-in clinics in the city, the announcement led to concerns about access to health care. There are two other clinics in Vernon, the North Okanagan Medical Clinic at the Real Canadian Superstore, and Gartree Medical Clinic in the Vernon Square Mall. The Gartree clinic announced it was cutting hours of service in January 2016, adding to worries about access to doctors. 

The Vernon Family Doctors Clinic has advised patients to visit their regular physicians, but those without a family doctor will be glad to learn a new clinic is opening in the near future.

The Sterling Centre Clinic is due to open Monday, March 21. The Sterling Centre is located across from Polson Park, at 3210 25 Avenue.

Staff at the office of Dr. Chris Cunningham, one of the physicians who will be working at the Sterling Centre clinic, say the hours will be Monday to Friday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Residents seeking medical care may still notice a bit of a squeeze given the Vernon Family Doctors Clinic was open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Sunday.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.