The last of London’s COVID-19 assessment clinics will officially close its doors at the end of the month.
The London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) announced on Wednesday it will be shutting down the COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic (CCFCC) located at Victoria Hospital on April 28. The decision to shutter the site, which is used to assess, test, and treat patients with symptoms of COVID-19 and seasonal cold and flu, comes as demand for appointments has dropped.
“The CCFCC has been an important resource for patients and an essential alternative to our emergency departments since the onset of the pandemic,” said Jerry Plastino, the LHSC’s ambulatory care and pharmacy executive. “We are so grateful to our staff, physicians, and community partners who supported this vital service for our community over the past three years.”
The Oakridge and Carling Heights COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Centres were opened at the start of the pandemic when demand for tests skyrocketed. They provided services to more than 229,000 people over 886 days before they were closed and services relocated to Building 24 at the south London hospital in August 2022. In December, the clinic was expanded to see people suffering cold and flu symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle aches or joint pain, runny nose or nasal congestion, abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, sore throat, and pink eye. The aim was to ease pressure on overwhelmed emergency departments.
Between December of last year and February, roughly 2,100 patients were assessed at the CCFCC site. Last month, visits declined to the point the clinic was only operating at 11 per cent capacity, the LHSC said.
Ahead of the full closure, the clinic will scale back its hours of operation from 9:20 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. seven-day-a-week to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-to-Friday. The new hours take effect on Monday.
As of April 29, people requiring a COVID-19 test or medication such as Paxlovid or Remdesivir are advised to contact their primary care provider or book an appointment at a participating pharmacy in the region. Those with cold and flu symptoms should visit their family doctor, nurse practitioner, a walk-in clinic or urgent care centre.
