The city of Airdrie has provided a statement regarding the recent news that Airdrie's Urgent Care Centre (UCC) will have intermittent closures during the weekends over the next eight weeks.

"This morning, Alberta Health Services (AHS) informed the City of Airdrie that the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) would be closing weekend nights starting July 22, 2022, for the next eight weeks. This closure leaves a city of 80,000 residents along with a catchment area including north Calgary, Crossfield and Rocky View County without access to urgent medical care within close proximity."

Mayor Brown stated that the situation is unacceptable and that the municipal government has been advocating the Provincial Government for years for expanded health care services for Airdrie.

"Yet here we are moving backwards without 24-hour services, seven days a week for our residents and neighbouring communities.”

According to the city's release, City Council has been advocating the Province for expanded health services for Airdrie for over a decade through meetings with Health Ministers, Deputy Ministers and our local MLAs. There was some positive movement when the UCC went to a 24-hour model, but that movement has since stalled.

“I want to thank those health care professionals that do such great work in our community,” added Mayor Brown. “This certainly isn’t a reflection of the quality of care they provide; this is about Alberta Health Services and our provincial leaders not making health care a priority for Airdrie and the other municipalities affected by this physician shortage”.

The city is encouraging residents, business owners and everyone with concerns regarding access to health care services in Airdrie to advocate with them by reaching out to their designated MLAs and Alberta’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Jason Copping.

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