Northern Health touts new service model for Prince George Urgent & Primary Care Centre

Northern Health has unveiled a new service model for the Prince George Urgent & Primary Care Centre that will ensure all patients receive appropriate care.Under the previous service model, patients were routinely turned away when the centre had filled its appointment limit for the day. ."Under the new service model at the Prince George Urgent and Primary Care Centre, patients will be registered on arrival and be triaged by a nurse," Northern Health wrote in a statement posted to X, noting that, "patients will be seen in order of urgency, not in order of arrival."The agency explained that, "depending on the patient’s needs, they may be seen by a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, or other health professional that day or be sent to the UHNBC emergency department.""Some appointments will be provided remotely by phone and/or videoconference," the statement continued. "Some patients may be booked for an appointment the following day or referred to see their family physician, pharmacist, or other community resource."Addressing the flaws of the previous system, Northern Health made it clear that now, "all patients will be triaged and directed to appropriate care," regardless of the number of appointments left in the day.The centre, located at 1600 - 15th Avenue, is open Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and provides care to "patients who require medical attention within 12 to 24 hours."The PG UPCC has noted that it is "not an emergency room, and cannot treat patients with serious illnesses or injuries such as broken bones, chest pain or head injuries." The move comes as British Columbians across the province struggle to receive the care they need in an increasingly overwhelmed healthcare system.