Patients of a health-care facility in Dartmouth, N.S., are facing challenges as a family practice in the area has announced the permanent closure of its walk-in clinic. The sign posted outside the building’s entrance states that Tacoma Family Medicine will cease operations at the beginning of the next week. This closure has left patients scrambling to find other options for their healthcare needs. Shelby Tobin, a patient of the walk-in clinic, expressed her disappointment with the closure and mentioned that she will now have to travel longer distances to access another walk-in clinic. Despite long waiting times at Tacoma, patients from outside the area would travel to access the care provided.
Dr. Colin Audain, president of Doctors Nova Scotia, expressed his lack of surprise at the clinic’s closure due to the shortage of family doctors in the area. He mentioned that the physicians running the clinic are staying in the community, possibly to find a work-life balance between their family practice and the walk-in clinic. However, he also highlighted the limited progress made in the province in terms of access to primary healthcare. The closure of the Tacoma walk-in facility adds to the challenges faced by residents in accessing healthcare services, especially in the Halifax area. Claudia Chender, leader of the Nova Scotia NDP, described the closure as a setback for the province’s healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of focusing on primary care to ensure Nova Scotians have access to a doctor when needed.
The closure of Tacoma Family Medicine walk-in clinic has left patients like Paul George uncertain about where to seek healthcare services now. George mentioned that his family has been attending the clinic for six years and is now worried about finding a new place to go. Despite the challenges, George remains hopeful that things will change, and he will be able to find a new doctor. The closure of the walk-in clinic adds to the growing number of people in Nova Scotia without a family practitioner. As of March 1, there are 155,373 people on the Need a Family Practice Registry, representing 15.7% of the population. The number of people without a family doctor has increased by 2,678 since the previous month, highlighting the ongoing challenges in access to primary healthcare in the province.
The closure of the Tacoma walk-in clinic serves as a reflection of the limited progress made in Nova Scotia regarding access to primary healthcare. Dr. Audain noted that despite efforts to increase the number of physicians in the province, the growing population continues to impact the availability of family doctors. The closure of accessible clinics like Tacoma leaves residents with limited options, forcing them to face long wait times at emergency rooms or travel longer distances to access care. The importance of primary care in the healthcare system is emphasized, with a call to prioritize ensuring Nova Scotians have access to a doctor’s office when needed.
The closure of the Tacoma Family Medicine walk-in clinic has raised concerns among residents in Dartmouth about the availability of healthcare services in the area. Patients like Shelby Tobin and Paul George, who do not have a family doctor, are now left to find alternative options for their healthcare needs. Dr. Audain highlighted the challenges faced by residents in accessing primary healthcare services and the ongoing shortage of family doctors in the province. The closure of the walk-in clinic has further exacerbated the existing issues in healthcare access, leaving patients to navigate a strained healthcare system with limited resources.
The closure of the walk-in clinic at Tacoma Family Medicine has had a significant impact on the community in Dartmouth, N.S., with patients expressing frustration and concern about the future of healthcare services in the area. The closure highlights the ongoing challenges faced by residents in accessing primary healthcare services, especially in the context of a shortage of family doctors in the province. As patients are forced to find alternative options for their healthcare needs, the closure of the walk-in clinic serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing primary care to ensure all Nova Scotians have access to timely and quality healthcare services.
