Temporary primary care clinic opens in Fort Erie to fill summer gaps

Brent Jones
June 30, 2025 at 7:56 PM

A new primary care access clinic has opened in Fort Erie to offer residents temporary support for minor health concerns, following the announced closure of the Douglas Memorial urgent care centre on Fridays this summer and the Civic Holiday long weekend.

The clinic is located at Bridges Community Health Centre (BCHC) at 1485 Garrison Road and will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on select days through mid-September.

It is part of a broader regional initiative that also includes a similar clinic in Port Colborne, says a Friday news release from the Niagara Ontario Health Team (NOHT).

According to the release, care is available to anyone permanently residing in Canada, and patients do not need an appointment to access care at the clinic.

The clinic is staffed by local health care professionals from BCHC, Niagara Medical Group, Portage Medical, and Welland McMaster family health teams. The initiative is supported by the NOHT.

The clinic offers assessment and treatment for non-emergency issues such as urinary tract infections, sore throats, cold and flu symptoms, minor sprains, rashes, and other minor illnesses and injuries.

According to information provided by BCHC, the services mirror what one would typically seek from a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

However, the clinic is not equipped to handle emergency-level care or more complex medical needs.

Services not available at the clinic include narcotic prescriptions, stitches, diagnostic imaging, blood tests, and treatment for serious allergic reactions or injuries.

Residents are urged to call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department in Welland, Niagara Falls, or St. Catharines if their condition is serious or life-threatening.

“Access to timely care is important for everyone,” said Taralea McLean in the release, executive director of BCHC.

“These clinics are a community-based response addressing the needs of our residents, and we are proud to be part of the solution,” she added.

Tara Galitz, executive director of the NOHT, emphasized the collaboration behind the clinics.

“This initiative shows the power of partnership and local leadership in action,” she said.

“By bringing together health care professionals…we’re helping to ensure that residents in Fort Erie, Port Colborne and nearby communities have access to primary care close to home through the summer,” Galitz added in the release.

The Fort Erie clinic will operate on Fridays throughout July and August, as well as on September 5 and 12.

Additional weekend dates in early August–August 2, 3 and 4–have also been scheduled.

For more information, residents can contact BCHC at (905) 871-7621 or visit bridgeschc.ca.