The province and Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments have signed a preliminary agreement to move to the design work stage for a new Urgent Care Centre in Saskatoon, which will provide an alternative to emergency departments for illnesses and injuries that aren’t life threatening, and it will also offer mental health supports.

The preferred site for the Urgent Care Centre is the current location of the Pleasant Hill School at 215 Avenue S South, which is a block away from St. Paul’s Hospital. The site was purchased by the provincial government from the Saskatoon School Board last December.

Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO, Andrew Will, says, “The centre will be staffed with a multidisciplinary care team, including mental health professionals, to provide patients better access to urgent medical attention for a variety of needs and will provide Saskatoon residents another option for more immediate access to health care not only for physical needs, but also for mental health concerns.” It will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This is the second Urgent Care Centre announced by the province. Construction of the Regina Urgent Care Centre is over half done and is expected to open next year.