Mobile walk-in clinic on the road in Sarnia-Lambton

A walk-in clinic on wheels is rolling in Lambton County, providing mental health, addiction and primary health care at stops around the community three days a week.

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MobileCare Sarnia-Lambton is a partnership of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Lambton Kent, Bluewater Health and the North Lambton Community Health Centre, which staff the unit with mental health and addiction workers and a nurse practitioner.

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Funding for the specially equipped van came from Ontario’s Heath Ministry and, following delays getting it ready during the pandemic, it has begun making stops in Sarnia, Watford, Alvinston, Thedford and Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.

The schedule and locations are posted online at mobilecareclinic.ca.

“I think we’re getting traction,” Rhonny Doxtator, CMHA Lambton-Kent’s acting chief executive, said of residents’ response.

“It might be someone who lives in the county and may not have primary care services,” she said. “They might come to the unit for some support. It might be someone who wants to access mental health care in their community locally and aren’t able to get to where services are located.”

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The walk-in service charges no fees. Each of the partners provides staff for the unit, which also got some United Way funding.

The aim is to reduce barriers to services, particularly in rural areas where transportation may be a challenge, and provide different kinds of help all under one roof, Doxtator said.

“So far, we’ve been very welcomed into the communities,” said Jennifer Peck, a nurse on CMHA’s mental health first response team. “All of the services have been accessed so far.”

“I’m seeing anyone. . . looking for mental health support,” including helping navigating the care system, she said. “I have provided some crisis support as well.”

Inside, the unit has a clinic for the nurse practitioner, a separate room for mental health and withdrawal management services, entry and waiting area in the center, and a staff washroom. There’s also a lift for those with accessibility issues.

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A driver is also part of the team and, during a regular stop on the Golden Mile in Sarnia Nov. 9, a CMHA housing case manager was also on hand. The unit also visits the Inn of the Good Shepherd location on John Street once a week.

Outside Sarnia, stops include East Lambton Community Complex in Watford, Alvinston Community Complex and Arena, Thedford’s Community Complex and Fire Hall, and Kettle and Stony Point.

“The whole purpose is the bus is going to where the care is needed,” Peck said.

That includes individuals living in motels on Sarnia’s Golden Mile without transportation to reach services.

“It’s definitely a different experience providing care on a bus, but it’s nice to bring the care to the people who need it and can’t access it,” Peck said.

One aim is to provide an alternative to going to hospital emergency room, Peck said.

“People are better cared for through community preventive treatment,” Doxtator said.

There’s also a mobile unit operating in Chatham-Kent. CMHA’s partners there are Chatham-Kent EMS, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and Chatham-Kent Community Health Centers.

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