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Service updates

Service updates

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public of an update to emergency services within the Central Zone.

Temporary Closure 

Lewisporte Health Centre, Lewisporte 

  Monday, April 21 at 4:30 p.m. until Tuesday, April 22 at 8:00 a.m.

In case of emergency: Patients with a medical emergency who require an ambulance should call 911. Those who feel they have a serious or urgent medical problem should proceed to their nearest emergency department. If you are unsure if you should go to the emergency department, please call the 811 HealthLine. 

Please note that all other listed locations are scheduled to provide Virtual ER services. 

 Virtual ER  

A.M. Guy Memorial Health Centre, Buchans

  • Friday, April 18 at 8:00 a.m.until Friday, April 25 at 8:00 a.m.

Dr. Y.K. Jeon Kittiwake Health Centre, New-Wes-Valley

  • Saturday, April 19 at 7:00 a.m. until Friday, April 25 at 8:00 a.m.

Lewisporte Health Centre, Lewisporte 

  • Tuesday, April 22 at 4:30 p.m. until Wednesday, April 23 at 8:00 a.m.
  • Thursday, April 24 at 4:30 p.m. until Friday, April 25 at 8:00 a.m.

Virtual ER: Virtual ERs help ensure emergency care coverage 24 hours per day, seven days per week to emergency departments that may experience challenges with local physician coverage. During a virtual ER, residents can proceed to the ER as usual. There will be a health-care professional onsite, as well as a physician or nurse practitioner (NP) by video. In many respects, a Virtual ER operates the same as a traditional Emergency Room. For more on Virtual ERs, please visit our website. 

Other Information: NL Health Services’ Health Hub is available to ALL residents of Central Newfoundland who have non-emergent medical issues and do not have a family physician. Health Hub clinics are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Hours of operation are dependent on physician availability. To reach the Health Hub, please call the Gander Medical Clinic at 709-381-0112 or 709-381-0338 or the Killick Clinic in Grand Falls-Windsor at 709-292-8404. Patients should expect an increase in wait times for both in person and virtual appointments at Health Hub sites. 

811 HealthLine is available 24/7 to provide: 

  • medical advice (including virtual nurse practitioner appointments which can usually be accommodated within three days); 
  • health information; and 
  • support in a mental health crisis. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.811healthline.ca/.   

For the most up-to-date information on temporary service closures throughout the province, please visit: https://nlhealthservices.ca/service-updates/. NL Health Services thanks the public for their understanding as we continue to focus on providing safe and quality care for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public of a temporary disruption of routine (walk-in blood collection) laboratory services at Notre Dame Bay Memorial Health Centre in Twillingate until April 25 at 9:00 a.m.

During this time, patients can travel to Gander or Grand Falls-Windsor for laboratory services (blood collection). This temporary disruption will not affect the services provided by the emergency or medical imaging departments.

For the most up-to-date information on temporary service closures throughout the province, please visit: https://nlhealthservices.ca/service-updates/.  

NL Health Services thanks the public for their understanding as we continue to focus on providing safe and quality care for people of the Twillingate area.

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Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public of upcoming changes to masking requirements at health-care facilities across the province, effective April 28, 2025.  

The public is reminded that self-screening for COVID-19/respiratory illness remains in effect, and visitors/support persons should not visit a health-care facility if they feel ill or are experiencing COVID-19, flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms.  

Updated masking guidelines (effective April 28, 2025)   

  • -Masking will no longer be required for visitors/support persons, clients, and patients, pending they meet the self-screening requirements, in clinical areas in health-care facilities (including waiting areas for health-care services/appointments, clinical care/treatment areas, and while visiting patients and long-term care residents).   
  • -If a facility experiences an outbreak, additional masking protocols may be implemented; visitors or support persons should check with the care team for the required personal protective equipment.    
  • -Reminder: Individuals seeking or receiving health-care services who are symptomatic (i.e. experiencing any one or more symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory symptoms) or who have a rash are required to wear a mask upon entry and at all times while inside a health-care facility. Visitors/support persons who are feeling unwell or sick should not visit patients/residents or accompany others to appointments.   
  • -Masks will continue to be available at health-care facilities across the province. Individuals who would like to continue wearing masks are encouraged to do so.   
  • -Individuals can wear their medical mask, or a mask provided at the health-care facility.   
  • -Visitors and support persons are also asked to consider the safety of those they are visiting. It can be especially important to wear a mask if you are around others who are at risk of more severe disease and outcomes, including those with chronic conditions, compromised immune systems, and older adults or young children.    

Current masking requirements 

  • Masks will continue to be required until April 28 in clinical areas and apply to visitors/support persons, clients, patients (in outpatient clinics and emergency departments) and health-care workers.  

Self-screening for COVID-19/respiratory illness   

  • Visitors/support persons are directed to follow signage at health-care facilities and meet the self-screening requirements before proceeding inside the health-care facility. In addition, visitors/support persons can complete self-screening before arrival at the facility by visiting https://nlhealthservices.ca/key-information/masking-and-self-screening. 

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Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public that telephone and internet services have been restored at all health-care facilities in the Western Zone.  

Scheduled appointments and procedures will proceed as normal tomorrow, Thursday, April 17. Any impacted services and cancelled appointments from today, Wednesday, April 16, will be rescheduled to a later date and patients/clients will be contacted directly. If you have any questions, please contact your health-care provider or service directly. 

NL Health Services thanks the public for their cooperation during this time. 

 

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises that on-site emergency and primary care coverage at the Labrador South Health Centre in Forteau will be supported through virtual services effective Friday, February 14, 2025.  

When a virtual ER is operating: Residents can proceed to Labrador South Health Centre in Forteau where there will continue to be a health-care provider available to support patient care on-site and to assist with virtual care.  

Virtual ERs help ensure emergency care coverage 24 hours per day, seven days per week to emergency departments that may experience challenges with local physician coverage. During a virtual ER, residents can proceed to the ER as usual. There will be a health-care professional onsite, as well as a physician or nurse practitioner (NP) by video. In many respects, a Virtual ER operates the same as a traditional Emergency Room.  

In case of emergency: Patients with a medical emergency who require an ambulance should call 911. Those who feel they have a serious or urgent medical problem should proceed to their nearest emergency department. If you are unsure if you should go to the emergency department, please call the 811 HealthLine. 

Virtual primary care: Provincial virtual primary care services are available to individuals who do not have a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) and have registered with Patient Connect NL. Virtual primary care is an additional service option that can provide diagnosis and treatment for numerous common illnesses with the use of innovative technology. 

Other information:
811 HealthLine is available 24/7 to provide: 

  • – medical advice (including virtual nurse practitioner appointments which can usually be accommodated within three days); 
  • – health information; and 
  • – support in a mental health crisis. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.811healthline.ca/. 

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public that laboratory services (blood collection) will be temporarily unavailable at the Mani Ashini Community Clinic in Sheshatshiu. Other services provided at the Mani Ashini Community Clinic will proceed as usual.

During this time, patients may choose to proceed to the Labrador Health Centre in Happy Valley – Goose Bay for routine laboratory services (blood collection).

NL Health Services thanks you for your cooperation.

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public of an update to the hours of operation for urgent care services at U.S. Memorial Health Centre in St. Lawrence. For the weeks of December 25 to January 5, urgent care will be offered by a physician virtually from Wednesday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

NL Health Services also advises the public that going forward, urgent care services at U.S. Memorial Health Centre in St. Lawrence will be offered either in person or virtually weekly from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

A limited number of same-day appointments are available via phone or walk-in on a first-come, first-served basis. To make a same-day appointment, patients may call 709-873-2330 and select option 2.

Urgent care is available to patients with or without a family health-care provider, offers access to same-day, urgent, health-care services and is an alternative to visiting an emergency department for non-emergency issues. Examples of patients who may been seen at an urgent care clinic include those who have cold and flu symptoms, fever, earaches, urinary tract infections, rashes, and minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes. More information on urgent care can be found HERE.

Hours of operation for routine blood collection services at U.S. Memorial Health Centre this week are from 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Blood collection services are by appointment only and can be booked by calling the registration desk at (709) 873-2220.

Patients with a medical emergency who require an ambulance should call 911. Those who feel they have a serious or urgent medical problem, such as chest pain or tightening, stroke, seizure and/or severe head injury, should proceed to the nearest open emergency department in Burin or Grand Bank.

If you are unsure whether you or a loved one should go to urgent care or an emergency department, please call the NL HealthLine at 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours, seven days a week. The HealthLine also has a nurse practitioner (NP) virtual care service that can prevent unnecessary emergency room visits for non-emergent issues. Appointments with NPs over the phone or by video are available everyday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., including weekends. Please note that appointments to see the 811 NP can usually be accommodated within three days. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the NL HealthLine at 811.

At this time and until otherwise notified, emergency services at the site continue to be temporarily closed due to human resource challenges. Recruitment efforts are ongoing to resume 24/7 emergency services. 

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services advises the public that going forward, urgent care services at Dr. William H. Newhook Community Health Centre in Whitbourne will be offered either in person or virtually weekly from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

A limited number of same-day appointments are available via phone or walk-in on a first-come, first-served basis. To make a same-day appointment, patients may call 709-759-2300 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

Urgent care is open to patients with or without a family health-care provider, offers access to same-day, urgent, health-care services and is an alternative to visiting an emergency department for non-emergency issues. Examples of patients who may been seen at an urgent care clinic include those who have cold and flu symptoms, fever, earaches, urinary tract infections, rashes, and minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes. More information on urgent care can be found here. 

Patients with a medical emergency who require an ambulance should call 911. Those who feel they have a serious or urgent medical problem, such as chest pain or tightening, stroke, seizure and/or severe head injury, should proceed to the nearest open emergency department in Carbonear, Placentia or St. John’s.  

If you are unsure whether you or a loved one should go to urgent care or an emergency department, please call the NL HealthLine at 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours, seven days a week. The HealthLine also has a nurse practitioner (NP) virtual care service that can prevent unnecessary emergency room visits for non-emergent issues. Appointments with NPs over the phone or by video are available everyday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., including weekends. Please note that appointments to see the 811 NP can usually be accommodated within three days. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the NL HealthLine at 811.   

At this time and until otherwise notified, emergency services at the site continue to be temporarily closed due to human resource challenges. Recruitment efforts are ongoing to resume 24/7 emergency services. 

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