Montreal’s public health agency says it will be converting several local clinics into “flu clinics” for a week starting on Saturday.
The move comes in response to the early onset of the flu virus in Quebec this year. Hundreds of flu patients — especially children — have been flooding into the city’s emergency rooms in recent weeks at rates much higher than usual.
The locations chosen to become flu clinics are all located near the overburdened hospitals, said a release issued by the health agency on Friday, and will be equipped to offer “better access to front-line services” for patients. People experiencing flu-like symptoms are still being encouraged to stay home and rest unless they are in a high-risk group (people older than 65, residents of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities and some children younger than five). Patients should speak to a nurse at Info-Santé (811) about their illness before heading to see a doctor.
The clinics will be open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day starting on Saturday and running until Jan. 16. They will continue to offer their usual medical services in addition to flu treatment. Patients are being encouraged to call in advance to ensure they can secure a spot. The clinics are:
Centre de médecine familiale Herzl
514-340-8311
5858 Côte-des-Neiges Rd., Suite 500
Clinique médicale Angus
514-807-2333
4101 Molson St., Suite 101
Centre médical Brunswick
514-426-6677
955 St-Jean Blvd., Pointe-Claire
Clinique médicale Désy
514-326-9060
5636 Henri-Bourassa Blvd. E.
Clinique Queen Elizabeth Urgent Care
514-485-5013
2100 Marlowe Ave.
Clinique médicale 3000
514-376-7702
3000 Bélanger St. E.
*Open only Jan 10-11.
Centre médical Hochelaga
514-353-8742
9080 Hochelaga St.
*Open as of Jan 12.
