York Region is urging residents to avoid unnecessary emergency room visits during this holiday season when alternative means of care are still available.
Although some primary care physicians may be away during the holiday season, the region said there are alternatives to primary care that will not require a visit to a hospital emergency room.
The region said in a news release that alternatives exist, including local walk-in clinics, the Health811 number to access a registered nurse for advice, or an appointment with a virtual urgent care clinic.
Emergency room departments tend to get busier during the holiday season. Southlake Regional Health Centre has also faced challenges with emergency room overcrowding in recent years due to a lack of physical space.
York Region noted it has also opened children’s care clinics in Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville as a quicker alternative to taking an unwell child to the emergency room. You can book an appointment for one at www.care-clinics.ca.
“These clinics provide access to a primary care nurse practitioner who can offer detailed assessments, diagnosis and treatment for a variety of health conditions and urgent needs,” the region said in a news release.
The region also said you can stay healthy this holiday season through preventative measures to avoid illness, such as staying home when sick, washing hands often, regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces and staying up to date with vaccines.
You should still call 911 for medical emergencies like possible broken bones, uncontrollable bleeding, sudden weakness, numbness, or tingling in the face or limbs and sudden difficulty speaking, among other severe ailments.
