Jackie Van Amburg works in the provincial government and commutes through the Scotia Square mall in downtown Halifax nearly every day.
Van Amburg used to always see lineups at the walk-in clinic there until a piece of paper was posted on the door informing patients that it had permanently closed.
“It's really sad to see that it's closed down, because we need it, and especially for people who come downtown every day,” Van Amburg said. “It's very disappointing and it makes me feel a bit anxious because it's one less service available for folks in Halifax.”
The Scotia Square Medical Clinic rejected The Chronicle Herald's request for an interview.
Dr. Colin Audain, president of Doctors Nova Scotia, said walk-in clinics are grappling with a shortage of physician resources, a challenge that is not unique to Nova Scotia but is prevalent across Canada.
“Most of these clinics are staffed by family physicians,” Audain said. “There's a shortage of family physicians. They are struggling to provide the services that they have in the past.”
The Family Focus Medical Clinic is currently the sole walk-in clinic available in downtown Halifax, as indicated on the YourHealthNS app. The app was developed by the provincial government and helps residents book and navigate health-care services.
Audain explained that the emergency department is not ideal for patients who typically visit walk-in clinics. Emergency departments prioritize the most unwell patients, so the waiting time is often very long.
He recommended that patients who are having difficulty registering with family physicians try mobile clinics created by Nova Scotia Health, pharmacy clinics, and virtual-care options, all of which are covered by provincial health insurance.
“The health-care system is in a situation right now that didn't happen overnight,” Audain said. “It will take a period of time to get to where we would like it to be.”
Audain said the provincial government has taken many steps to address the physician shortage problem. For example, the province has implemented physician incentive programs and has provided funding for a new medical school at Cape Breton University.
“Those initiatives (that) are in place, are all very good things,” Audain said. “It's just unfortunate that there's not very many things that can be done in the immediate short term that will dramatically change the situation that we're in right now.”
Health Minister Michelle Thompson said as part of the incentive program last year, the government asked physicians to take on 50 patients who were on the family practice registry to ensure they had access to care. Many physicians took part in that initiative, she said.
Thompson said the Scotia Square walk-in clinic closed several months ago.
“We don't necessarily always open those (walk-in) clinics. There were physicians who expand hours, as an example. They would work with the primary-care folks at Nova Scotia Health.”
Thompson said the government doesn't have a lever to keep physician practices open when they decide to close.
There are an additional 60,000 clinic appointments a month in the province. The government will work with any practice that feels it needs support to remain open longer.
Xixi Jiang is a graduating student in the journalism program at the University of King’s College. She is on a one-month internship at The Chronicle Herald.
