Need non-urgent care over the holidays? Know your health care options
Need to see your primary care physician this holiday season but they are not available? York Region reminds you of alternatives to primary care that do not include visiting local hospital emergency rooms.
These include:
- Calling Health811- available 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- to connect with a registered nurse for free, secure and confidential health advice
- Visiting a local walk-in clinic or pharmacy
- Booking an appointment with a Virtual Urgent Care Clinic
Access Children’s Care Clinics for a quicker alternative
York Region Ontario Health Team partners have opened Children’s Care Clinics in the Towns of Whitchurch-Stouffville and Georgina as a quicker alternative to taking an unwell child to the emergency room. 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. Appointments can be booked online at www.care-clinics.ca for children six months of age and older.
Know when to call 911
Call 911 in a medical emergency, for situations including but not limited to:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Sudden severe pain to an area of the body
- Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
- Choking
- Possible broken bones
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Sudden dizziness or vision problems
- Sudden weakness, numbness and/or tingling in the face, arm or leg
- Sudden difficulty speaking
- A child with diarrhea and vomiting and will not eat or drink
- A baby under six months with a fever over 38 .5°C (101°F)
You can also stay healthy this holiday season by taking preventative measures to avoid illness. Protect yourself and loved ones by layering up protective measures including staying home when sick, washing hands often, regularly disinfecting high-touch surfaces and staying up to date with COVID-19, flu and RSV (if eligible) vaccines.
