The minister of transportation and infrastructure is hopeful that a new workforce development plan in the health care system will help with staffing challenges that have delayed the opening of a new urgent care clinic in Mount Pearl.

Barry Petten this week announced the provincial government’s intention to open an urgent care clinic in CBS, even as the brand new Mount Pearl facility sits idle as the health authority works to staff it.

Petten says he’s already heard from people wondering how a similar facility in CBS would be staffed, which he admits is a fair question.

“I think that’s part of the bigger plan,” says Petten. “We’re well aware of those issues…we need staff obviously, but we also need facilities, so, it goes hand in hand. Hopefully we work through that and they’re staffed up and that would take a lot of pressure off emergency rooms.”