Starting on February 13 the Port Hardy Primary Health Care Centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Saturdays. People in need of prescriptions, test results and treatment of non-emergency medical issues will be
able to get same-day appointments with a family physician or nurse practitioner. It is anticipated that this pilot
project will be of real benefit to people who have difficulty seeing their doctor on weekdays and may otherwise
seek care at a local emergency department. The project will be assessed in the future to determine if it is well-
used and warrants continuation.
“We’re very happy to continue improving access to primary medical care for families in our community,” said Dr.
Prean Armogan, Medical Director for the Mount Waddington/Strathcona region.
“The people who work during the day are the same people you will see after hours in Emergency,” he added. “It
is easy for people to think that it doesn’t matter if they occasionally come in after-hours for non-emergency
situations, but you want staff to be as fresh and rested as possible.”
Between August, 2015 and January, 2016 the staff of Port Hardy Hospital redirected 233 patients from the
Emergency Department to community clinics for treatment of non-urgent conditions. The expanded hours of the
Port Hardy Primary Health Care Centre will make it easier for patients to get the care they need in the
appropriate setting. Patients can call 250-902-6008 to request an appointment with the next available doctor or
nurse practitioner at the Health Centre. The Saturday opening hours will begin on February 13.
Anyone experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding, or anyone who feels they need urgent
medical attention, should not hesitate to call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.