Moncton health care clinic still looking for a new home
A clinic that provides primary health care services to Moncton’s vulnerable population is still looking for a permanent home.
The Salvus Clinic was evicted from their long-term space in October and has been operating temporarily out of a downtown church and with their mobile unit ever since.
Executive director Melissa Baxter said they provide any service that someone would receive in a regular physician’s office such as chronic disease management and health assessments.
They also do housing support with individuals that have moved out of homelessness and into housing.
“It’s really hard to imagine that a service such as the Salvus Clinic is unable to find a location to operate its services,” said Baxter. “We serve 4,200 individuals annually. It’s a well established, much needed service. We’re really just shocked that we’re unable to find a location.”
Some staff have been working out of the St. George’s Anglican Church while others have been operating out of the mobile van that sees clients at the city’s shelters.
Ami Ashe is a registered nurse who does outreach services at shelters for the clinic.
“We do a lot of wound care. Primary heath care assessments, blood work, vaccinations, mental health support,” said Ashe.
Ashe said it’s very difficult to do her job without a permanent structure.
“We have the mobile van, but we have a large staff and the mobile van can really fit maximum two staff at once. It’s hard because there’s nowhere to see clients to ask them where to come to. Sometimes I meet clients and normally I would say, ‘Oh, come to the clinic tomorrow or come this afternoon,’ and there’s nowhere to tell them to come to,” said Ashe.
The Salvus Clinic’s role is not just outreach services at shelters, they also serve a lot of clients that are sleeping rough.
“If they’re not staying in the shelter and I’m always at the shelter people are falling through the cracks,” said Ashe.
Baxter said it’s challenging for Ashe and the staff to not have a permanent home.
“We provide in-person service so it’s a little difficult to try and make arrangements to do that without a physical location,” said Baxter. “We’re very upset that we are not able to provide the level of service that we are accustomed to providing. We hear from our clients often. They’re often asking us when are we going to find a location because they would like to receive the services that they’re accustomed to.”
Baxter said despite the transitional time for the Salvus Clinic, they remain committed to helping the population they serve.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump vows to renegotiate USMCA free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico
Donald Trump has vowed to renegotiate the USMCA free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.
Poilievre, Guilbeault claim victory after federal budget watchdog's updated carbon tax report
Both the Liberals and Conservatives are claiming a win after the parliamentary budget officer released an updated report on the economic impacts of the federal carbon tax on Canadian households.
Look up: Northern lights could be visible across Canada on Thursday night
The northern lights could be visible across most of Canada on Thursday night.
1 person is dead and 12 are trapped in a former Colorado gold mine
One person was killed and officials were working to rescue 12 others trapped deep beneath the surface of a former Colorado gold mine after an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, authorities said Thursday.
'This is money, this is my life': Victim of violent Thornhill robbery says he had around $110K stolen
The victim of a violent robbery in Thornhill says he had $100,000 to $110,000 stolen from him after being boxed in his car.
Winnipeg School Division apologizes over message displayed during professional development day
The superintendent of the Winnipeg School Division (WSD) has apologized over a message displayed during a professional development day on Wednesday.
Another Canadian reportedly dead in Lebanon amid escalating Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Global Affairs Canada says it's aware of reports of the death of a Canadian in Lebanon.
340 rescued following Hurricane Milton's widespread destruction
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction and immobilizing critical infrastructure. Hundreds of residents have been rescued so far.
Senate passes Liberal, NDP bill to cover diabetes and birth control medication
The pharmacare bill that was central to a political pact between the Liberals and NDP become law Thursday after the Senate passed the bill without making any changes.