Government is going to establish an “Urgent Care Centre” in the St. John’s metro region.

Such a facility takes pressure off emergency rooms by diverting some traffic away from emergency rooms. They provide access for unexpected, non-life-threatening health concerns which require same day or next day access.

Examples of conditions that can be treated through urgent care may include sprains and strains, new and worsening non-urgent pain, fever and infections, and childhood illness and injury.

Health Minister Tom Osborne says the establishment of an urgent care centre will help alleviate the strain on local emergency departments.

In terms of staffing for the facility, Osborne says government has been making strides in terms of recruitment.

He says there is a “world class recruitment complement” within the provincial health authority, and touts government’s international recruitment initiatives.

Osborne says says government is hopeful that they’ve seen the worst of the healthcare shortage challenges, and they can now start staffing up.