Elkford Mayor Steve Fairbairn says the new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) is a much-needed addition to local health care.
“It holds significant potential for improved services in Elkford, and it’s the biggest positive change I’ve seen in a long time,” said Fairbairn.
“It’s great, and I’ve made use of it myself already.”
The UPCC opened on Wednesday, May 21, and has been helping patients ever since.
Fairbairn says the new facility has filled long-existing gaps in Elkford’s health care.
“It offers more services than there was before and there are more people working there, including associated professionals,” said Fairbairn.
“Elkfordians should have to travel less than they did before because it’s now in place and there are more service hours.”
Previously, Elkford’s Emergency Department closed on Sept. 29, 2021.
Fairbairn says fewer Elkford residents travelling for care could take pressure off healthcare facilities in neighbouring communities.
“Its existence, with more people working, should draw attention from regional health authorities because there is more staffing,” said Fairbairn.
I suspect that administrators would see some stress taken off Sparwood and Fernie if Elkfordians are getting the healthcare they need in Elkford.”
Fairbairn says the community now only lacks an emergency department, which he does not expect anytime soon.
“We’re not going to have an emergency department and we’re not going to be able to do life-saving emergency operations, nor have we ever been able to,” said Fairbairn.
For now, emergency care is done in the Fernie Hospital or East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook.
That said, Fairbairn is grateful for the expansion to local healthcare.
“I’m pleased we have a UPCC in our community, and I’m really looking forward to how things will go in the future,” said Fairbairn.
“I appreciate the money that was spent on that building to upgrade it to handle that facility. It’s a great new facility and I’m happy to see it.”
Elkford’s new UPCCÂ was built into the existing Elkford Health Centre and is co-located with other community health services, X-ray and lab services.
According to Interior Health CEO Susan Brown, Elkford’s UPCC had 200 patients in its first nine days of operation.
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