MPP Burch fights back against overnight closures at Port Colborne Urgent Care Centre

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP MPP Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre) rose in Question Period today, to fight for a restoration of overnight coverage to the Port Colborne Urgent Care Centre.

Last week, Niagara Health announced that Port Colborne’s Urgent Care Centre, typically open 24 hours, would have significantly reduced hours on a permanent basis, only operating between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Residents of Niagara Centre will now have to go to Welland Hospital for emergency support – which is also facing a reduction of emergency services.

“People don’t plan to need urgent health care services in the middle of the night,” said Burch. “But when emergencies strike, the people in my community need to have confidence that they have access to nearby, timely health care. Where are people supposed to turn when there is no urgent care or limited emergency care in their community?

“Ontarians are facing health care closures across the province, and Ford’s passing of Bill 60 will only make it worse. The Minister of Health needs to take some responsibility and step up immediately to restore overnight services to Port Colborne’s urgent care centre.”