Questions remain about how the Urgent Care Clinic at Whitbourne will work.

Service at the clinic’s Emergency Room hasn’t been consistently staffed for an extended period and efforts to recruit for the ER have proven challenging.

The Vice President of Medical Services with Eastern Health, Dr. Gena Bugden, says it’s a new model and they’re hoping it will help area residents with difficulty accessing health care.

Bugden says the clinic will provide primary care and same-day access for non-urgent issues.

Emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes and serious injuries will require patients to travel to one of three available ER’s in Placentia, Carbonear or St. John’s.