Norfolk Ward 3 Councillor Mike Columbus and Delhi LaSalette Knights of Columbus member George DaSilva, on the far right, cut the ribbon for the newly expanded walk-in clinic at the Delhi Community Health Centre, assisted by board members Pat Loncke and Matt Wilkinson, on the left, and Lori Yeo, DCHC Building Administrator.
By Chris Abbott
Delhi’s public walk-in clinic has officially moved into its new space at the Delhi Community Health Centre and expanded its hours and days.
It is open four days a week now, Thursday to Sunday. The new hours are 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, and weekends Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday, Jan. 31 to recognize its Feb. 1 grand opening.
“This project was kind of a heartfelt need for the community,” said Lori Yeo, DCHC Building Administrator, speaking to guests, staff and dignitaries at the ribbon cutting. “I want all of you to know that every single one of you has supported this project and made it possible in some way.”
Yeo thanked the Delhi LaSalette Knights of Columbus, Council 5095, for their generous donation of $100,000 toward the walk-in clinic, which helped escalate their timeline.
“And made it so the walk-in clinic can be open more hours and more days to serve the public,” said Yeo, noting the project was completed without incurring debt, which was a mandate.
“Being part of the community, all of you know that things like this have to come from donations (and fundraising) because we are a non-profit charity.”
Prior to the renovation project, the walk-in clinic was open two days per week, roughly 10 hours per week.
“In 2024 we saw 4,049 patients in that timeframe. Of those, almost 900 people that came in through our door are unattached – do not have a family doctor, which is a big problem everywhere. So, as long as that continues to be a problem, places like ours continue to be necessary part of healthcare in Norfolk County, which makes me really, really proud that we’re opening it today.”
“That is amazing success,” said Norfolk Ward 3 Councillor Mike Columbus, representing Delhi and area, and a former founding board member of the health centre.
“I am pleased to participate in the official launch of the four-day walk-in clinic,” said Columbus. “The addition of a four-day walk-in clinic, open to all, under the dedicated service of Dr. Ringrose, in addition to primary care provided by the Big Creek health team, is certainly welcomed by the Delhi community.”
Columbus, a Knights of Columbus member, also thanked the Knights for their generous donation and “support of this unique and needed community initiative.”
“Lastly, a note of appreciation to all who have supported this model health centre. This health centre has been used as a model by the Ontario government, the Ministry of Health, right across the province.
“This health centre is certainly a vital component to the health and wellbeing of the Greater Delhi Norfolk community area,” Columbus concluded.
Yeo conducted a tour of the newly expanded walk-in clinic following the ribbon cutting.
“Basically, I was telling them we need more doctors come and help so we can be open more,” said Yeo. “Opening it on this side made it so that we have the availability – we could work, five, six, seven days a week if we had the doctors to do it.”
There is earning potential for doctors, she noted.
The current hours reflect the greatest needs of the community, she said, with weekends being the busiest times.
“Emergency rooms are busiest on weekends, and one of our goals is to help alleviate some of the burden in the emergency rooms. In order to do that, you need to be open when the emergency rooms are busy.”
They welcome patients who do not have family doctors, she said, but also try to work with patients who do have a family doctor on weekends.
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