Calgary’s 24-hour urgent care centre may close at night

CALGARY – Alberta Health Services is reviewing whether to reduce the hours at Calgary’s only 24-hour urgent care centre, unions and opposition parties charged Wednesday.

The medical superboard is considering closing Sheldon Chumir Centre’s urgent care unit at 10 p.m. and reopening in the morning, according to the United Nurses of Alberta.

"We understand they are looking at cost saving measures and one of them is not to be open at night," said Jacki Capper, president of the union local that represents nurses at Sheldon Chumir.

The possibility that the urgent care centre could close overnight is also angering doctors and other health workers, who note Calgary does not have a downtown hospital.

Health Minister Ron Liepert said Wednesday there is no immediate plan to cut hours at the clinic.

"It’s running 24/7 and there are no plans at this time that it would change," said Liepert, speaking to reporters in Edmonton.

"A year from now? I don’t know, I can’t promise that, but that’s where it is today."

The comments follow questions from Alberta Liberals in the legislature earlier this week about whether there were plans to reduce urgent care hours at the Sheldon Chumir Centre.

Party Leader David Swann said Wednesday there are strong indications from staff at the centre that urgent care hours will face "significant cuts" as the superboard moves to reduce its deficit.

"This would add tremendously to the stress on emergency room departments and ultimately create delays in care and more complications for people," said Swann.

One doctor who works at the urgent care centre said he has heard the superboard is actively considering reducing the hours and possibly cutting several nursing positions.

The physician, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Sheldon Chumir facility could be modelled after the south Calgary urgent care clinic, which closes overnight.

The doctor said he is frustrated the superboard appears more focused on saving money than patient care.

"What has changed, other than dollars and cents, for them to now say, ‘Your service isn’t needed at night,’ " asked the physician.

The comments come one day after Alberta Health Services announced a massive job reduction plan that could eliminate more than 1,000 positions through hiring restrictions and buyouts as it seeks to eliminate its deficit.

mlang@theherald.canwest.com