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Urgent Treatment Centres

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Dr examines patient

Urgent Treatment Centres offer an alternate level of care for those who do not have a life-threatening medical emergency, but require urgent treatment. 

They are not the same as emergency departments.  They do not receive ambulances, and only see patients by appointment.

Anyone experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury should call 911 or go directly to the nearest Emergency Department.

Some examples of urgent, non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries include:

  • mild abdominal pain
  • simple fractures
  • limb sprains
  • mild muscle strains/sprains
  • mild headaches
  • earaches
  • minor infections
  • skin and eye irritations
  • mild asthma
  • small lacerations
  • mild mental health support
  • minor respiratory issues

For non-urgent care, you can also call 811 to speak with a registered nurse.

This guide can also help you decide where to go in different situations.

How do I prepare for an appointment?

When preparing for your appointment there are important items that you must have with you. These include:

  • Provincial health card - If your health card is about to or has already expired and you have not received a new one in the mail, call 1-800-563-8880.
  • Any private health care insurance information (Blue Cross, Maritime Medical, etc.)
  • Medication - A complete list of your medications, including any vitamins and supplements you take. 
  • A list of any known allergies and sensitivities

You may also wish to bring paper and a pen to write down important information or any questions you have for the doctor or nurse practitioner. 

While we try to stay on schedule, there is often a wait. You may wish to bring a book or something else to make the wait more enjoyable. Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.

There is a fee charged for out of country patients.

What will happen during my appointment?

You will register with the registration clerk.

You will be called in for your appointment with the doctor or nurse practitioner. They will review your assessment, and what brought you to the urgent treatment centre. They may ask about existing health conditions and any medications you are taking. They may also check your breathing, pulse, blood pressure and temperature.

Service Statuses

Disruption
(North Sydney, NS)

Urgent Treatment Centres

The urgent treatment centre at Northside General Hospital in North Sydney will be closed on Friday, Dec. 6. It reopens at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. 

Disruption

Urgent Treatment Centres

The Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre in Tatamagouche is closed Friday, Dec. 5 to Tuesday, Dec. 10. 

Disruption
(Middle Musquodoboit, NS)

Urgent Treatment Centres

Musquodoboit Valley Memorial Hospital Urgent Treatment Center in Musquodoboit will be closed from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1.

Accessing Primary Care

There are many ways to access primary care, even if you're not currently attached to a primary care provider.

Answer a few quick questions to receive personalized instructions for accessing Nova Scotia Health's primary care options near you including in-person, virtual and telephone options.

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Find Emergency Care

Use this tool to identify the emergency care options that are currently available nearest to you.

If this is a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance

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Urgent Treatment Centre locations Map

Urgent Treatment Centre locations

Annapolis Community Health Centre

sat Dec 7 Unavailable
sun Dec 8 Unavailable
mon Dec 9 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
tue Dec 10 Unavailable
wed Dec 11 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
thu Dec 12 Unavailable
fri Dec 13 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Hours are subject to change.

Patients will be seen by appointment only.

The Annapolis Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) provides access to care for those with unexpected, non-life-threatening health concerns with appointments offered within one to two days.

To book (or cancel) an appointment* call 902-532-4011 or visit in-person. You will be assessed to determine if you require an appointment later that day, or the next day the centre is open. If you require emergent care, you will be directed to the nearest emergency department.

There are a specific number of appointments available each day at the UTC. Once those appointments are booked up, we will no longer answer the telephone line. A sign will be posted at Annapolis Community Health Centre to inform the public. Closed on holidays.

*Please note: If there are no appointments available at this urgent treatment centre and your issue isn't urgent in nature, you can also call 1-833-710-0110 for availability of same-day appointments at surrounding primary care and after hours clinics. Telephone lines open starting at 8 a.m., Monday to Friday. There is limited availability and appointments will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.  

The available appointments could be at any one of four locations:

More about the program

The Annapolis UTC is different than an emergency department in that it provides care for non-life-threatening illness or injuries, does not receive ambulances, and only sees patients by appointment.

Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital

sat Dec 7 Closed
sun Dec 8 Not available
mon Dec 9 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
tue Dec 10 Closed
wed Dec 11 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
thu Dec 12 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
fri Dec 13 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

 Patients will be seen by appointment only.

This service provides consistent access to care in this community and mean those with unexpected, but non-life-threatening health concerns will be able to receive care the same day.Patients who require emergency care should continue to call 911.

Appointments can be made by calling 902-885-2554 during operating hours. Choose the option for urgent care.

Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital

sat Dec 7 Closed
sun Dec 8 Closed
mon Dec 9 Closed
tue Dec 10 Closed
wed Dec 11 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
thu Dec 12 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
fri Dec 13 Closed

Hours are subject to change. Call 902-657-2385 for up-to-date hours.

Patients will be seen by appointment only.

Please note, there are a specific number of appointments available each day.

To book an appointment call 902-657-2385 during hours of operation or visit in person during hours of operation.

When you call, we will ask you questions about what has led you to request an appointment, then we will do one of the following:

  • Book an appointment for that day.
  • Book an appointment for the next day we are open.
  • Advise you to continue on to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.
  • Advise you to make an appointment with your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
  • If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, encourage you to register on the Need a Family Practice Registry. To register go to  or call 811.
  • If already on the Need a Family Practice Registry, we encourage you to call and book an appointment at a Primary Care Clinic in your community if available. VirtualCareNS may also be an option for you. 

If appointments are fully booked for the day, we ask that you call back or attend in person the next day the UTC is open to book an appointment. If you require emergent care for a life-threatening illness or injury, please call 911. You can also call 811 to speak with a registered nurse.

Musquodoboit Valley Memorial Hospital

sat Dec 7 Closed
sun Dec 8 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
mon Dec 9 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
tue Dec 10 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
wed Dec 11 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
thu Dec 12 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
fri Dec 13 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Patients can book appointments starting at 8 a.m. each day the Urgent Treatment Centre is open by calling 902-384-2220

When people call, they will be assessed by a nurse to determine if they will be scheduled for an appointment, either later that day or the next available day.

Northside General Hospital

sat Dec 7 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
sun Dec 8 Unavailable
mon Dec 9 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
tue Dec 10 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
wed Dec 11 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
thu Dec 12 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
fri Dec 13 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Hours are subject to change.

To make an appointment*, call 902-794-8966 or attend in person.

*Please note, there are a specific number of appointments available each day at the UTC.

Once those appointments are booked up, we will update the UTC voicemail, and place a sign in the UTC entrance letting the public know.

We ask that you call back or attend in person the next day the UTC is open to book an appointment.   If you require emergent care for a life-threatening illness or injury, please call 911.

You can also call 811 to speak with a registered nurse.

You will be assessed to determine if you require an appointment later that day, or the next day the centre is open. If you require emergent care, you will be directed to the nearest emergency department. 

To assess you by phone or in person, a nurse will ask you questions about what has led you to request an appointment at the urgent treatment centre. 

They will also ask about existing health conditions and any medications you are taking. 

Once the nurse has gathered your information, they will do one of the following:

  • Book an appointment for that day
  • Book an appointment for the next day the centre is open.
  • Advise you to continue on to the nearest emergency department
  • Advise you to make an appointment with your family physician
  • If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, encourage you to register on the Need a Family Practice Registry. To register go to  or call 811.
  • If already on the Need a Family Practice Registry, we encourage you to call and book an appointment at a Primary Care Clinic in your community if available. VirtualCareNS may also be an option for you. 

South Cumberland Community Care Centre

sat Dec 7 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
sun Dec 8 Closed
mon Dec 9 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
tue Dec 10 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
wed Dec 11 Closed
thu Dec 12 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
fri Dec 13 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Hours are subject to change. 

* Please note, there are a specific number of appointments available each day at the urgent treatment centre (UTC). Once those appointments are fully booked we will place a sign in the UTC entrance letting the public know.

We ask that you call back or attend in person the next day the UTC is open to book an appointment. 

To book an appointment call 902-254-2540, Option 1 during hours of operation, or attend in person during hours of operation.

When you call, we will ask you questions about what has led you to request an appointment at the Parrsboro Urgent Treatment Centre.

Then we will do one of the following:

  • Book an appointment for that day.
  • Book an appointment for the next day.
  • Advise you to continue on to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.
  • Advise you to make an appointment with your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
  • If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, encourage you to register on the Need a Family Practice Registry. To register go to  or call 811.
  • If already on the Need a Family Practice Registry, we encourage you to call and book an appointment at a Primary Care Clinic in your community if available. VirtualCareNS may also be an option for you. 

Both walk in and booked appointments will be available for everyone in the community, whether or not they have a primary care provider. Booked appointments are preferred although walk ins will be triaged and scheduled to be seen as appropriate. If you already have a primary care provider, please contact them first to see if they can accommodate your same day or next day need. 

Victoria County Memorial Hospital

sat Dec 7 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
sun Dec 8 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
mon Dec 9 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
tue Dec 10 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
wed Dec 11 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
thu Dec 12 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
fri Dec 13 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Hours are subject to change.

* Please note, there are a specific number of appointments available each day at the UTC.

Once those appointments are booked up, we will update the UTC voicemail, and place a sign in the UTC entrance letting the public know. 

We ask that you call back the next day the UTC is open to book an appointment. If you require emergent care for a life-threatening illness or injury, please call 911. 
You can also call 811 to speak with a registered nurse.

To get an appointment, call 902-295-2983 (no walk-ins).

You will be assessed to determine if you require an appointment later that day, or the next day the centre is open. If you require emergent care, you will be directed to the nearest emergency department. 

To assess you by phone, a nurse will ask you questions about what has led you to request an appointment at the urgent treatment centre. 

They will also ask about existing health conditions and any medications you are taking. 

Once the nurse has gathered your information, they will do one of the following:

  • Book an appointment for that day
  • Book an appointment for the next day the centre is open.
  • Advise you to continue on to the nearest emergency department
  • Advise you to make an appointment with your family physician
  • If you do not have a primary care provider (physician or nurse practitioner), you are encouraged to register on the Need a Family Practice Registry

Yarmouth Regional Hospital

sat Dec 7 Closed
sun Dec 8 Closed
mon Dec 9 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
tue Dec 10 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
wed Dec 11 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
thu Dec 12 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
fri Dec 13 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

By appointment only. For appointment, call 902-742-2406.

Located on the main floor of the hospital
 
When making the appointment, patient will be assessed by a nurse to ensure they are going to the best place for care. Patients that are appropriate to be seen will get an appointment either later that day or the next day the centre is open.

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