Bluewater Health is expecting an influx of patients over the holidays and has some tips to help you avoid a trip to the ER.
Manager of Emergency Services, Patient Flow, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Nadine Neve said over 300 patients are expected to visit the Sarnia and Petrolia emergency departments each day.
"If it's not a true emergency, call primary care providers first, see if their offices are open," said Neve. "We do have walk-in clinics and an access to care clinic in town that are having hours over the holidays. Non-emergencies would be a common cold, ingrown toenails... things like that. Primary care providers can easily deal with those."
She said a list of resources and the hours they operate is posted at thehealthline.ca.
"We will also have some information posted in the emergency department at both sites, in Sarnia and the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart site as well."
Neve said "surge" staff and beds are in place over the holidays.
