Mobile health clinic coming to Lower Sackville this weekend

A new mobile clinic travelling around the province with the aim of easing the strain on Nova Scotia's emergency departments will be stopping in the Halifax area this weekend.

It will be at the will be parked at the Cobequid Community Health Centre in Lower Sackville on Saturday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 27 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Those heading to the mobile clinic are asked to bring their health card and have a list of medications available.

Upon arrival they'll be asked why they're visiting, and if the clinic can help, the patients will be screened for COVID, then given an approximate appointment time.

The clinic — staffed by doctors or nurse practitioners —  will not be handling urgent or life-threatening situations, like strokes, heart attacks, seizures, severe burns or major traumas, but it will be able to help those who need prescription refills or treatment for non-urgent issues like flu or cold symptoms, rashes, minor infections, ear aches, muscle pain and urinary tract infections. 

“We don't want people to go to the emergency department for this type of low-acuity care,” Tara Sampalli, a senior scientific director with Nova Scotia Health told CityNews Halifax earlier this week.

Health care providers at the mobile clinic also can't do lab work or diagnostic imaging, but they can provide referrals.

Sampalli said on previous weekends, they've been able to help 80 to 100 patients a day.

Anyone with an urgent medical needs should call 911.

The province's Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line can also be reached 24/7 by calling 1-888-429-8167.

Nova Scotians can also call 811 24/7 to get general health advice and information from experienced registered nurses.