Closure of Regina Clinic Leaves 5,000 Patients in Search of Care

Approximately 5,000 patients in Regina are now on the hunt for new family doctors, following the unforeseen closure of the Gardens Community Health Centre this past weekend. Unable to secure enough physicians, the clinic, which offered various family-oriented services, shut its doors on Sunday.

This closure highlights the persistent challenges in Saskatchewan regarding primary care access, as doctor shortages continue to plague communities throughout the province.

Patients have voiced their worries over the sudden end to care. Kate Malagride, 29, a patient since the clinic's inception in 2018, expressed her concern about finding a new doctor for her anxiety treatment. “Having that stability was really nice, and now it’s just a little unsettling not knowing where to go next,” she shared.

Vanessa Bourlon, 38, relied on the clinic for her two children with autism. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. Our doctor has been with us for so long that she understands our whole history,” she revealed.

Tammy Heland, 36, lamented how the closure disrupts her ongoing treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and celiac disease. “This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s catastrophic. I can’t even go to a walk-in clinic to get my medication,” she stated.

The clinic did not provide any comments regarding the reasons behind its closure.

Initially funded with millions from the government since its opening in 2018, the centre aimed to enhance community healthcare and reduce emergency room wait times, although the province has not disclosed the total funding amount.

The Opposition NDP has criticized the government for mishandling the situation. Health critic Meara Conway stated that Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill had been aware of potential risks for months but did nothing to prevent the closure. “5,000 people woke up this morning without access to primary care,” she declared.

Cockrill responded by saying the province is working to address the shortage by hiring more doctors and incorporating nurse practitioners who can provide similar services. He encourages residents without a primary care provider to reach out to available nurse practitioners.

Conway countered that increasing nurse practitioner roles doesn't wholly resolve the gap left by the clinic's closure, suggesting that the government could have better compensated doctors or temporarily staffed the clinic with nurse practitioners.

Cockrill assured that the government’s long-term strategy aims to make sure all Saskatchewan residents have access to a primary care provider by 2028.