Pressure on the local healthcare system may get some relief with the official opening of a nursing clinic in Petrolia.
CarePartners celebrated the grand opening of the Petrolia Nursing Clinic on Wednesday. The clinic started seeing patients in early May and is currently operating seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with on-call staff.
Director of Operations Amanda de Man said they are currently seeing 11 patients per day but the goal is to see 24 patients per day with operating hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
She said personal support services have been offered through the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) in Sarnia, Chatham, and Windsor and although nursing services recently became available in the area, this is the first nursing clinic to open in Petrolia.
"We started nursing in the community last year, it's been just over a year, so it's very exciting that we've been able to expand and offer a clinic in Petrolia," said de Man.
Nursing services provided at the clinic include wound care and catheter care.
During Wednesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, staff highlighted how a small clinic is "perfect" for rural families.
"Petrolia is a wonderful location. We've been so welcomed here and we're really excited to open up our clinic and just be part of the healthcare system down here," said CarePartners CEO Linda Knight.
Aside from saving some residents from having to make the trip to Sarnia for appointments, Knight said the clinic will also alleviate pressure on area healthcare providers, as seen in other rural communities.
"We cover very rural Ontario from Thunder Bay to Windsor so we've got 22 clinics sprinkled throughout the region," said Knight. "It's just a really great addition to family health teams, emergency departments, and other services."
A representative of Lambton Family Health Team stopped by to welcome staff at the nursing clinic and said it marked a "historic moment in rural healthcare."
There are two examination rooms at the clinic, which is located at 4359 Petrolia Line.
