Summerlanders who need an x-ray will be able to drop in at the Summerland Health Centre without an appointment during a trial of the service.
The drop-in x-ray service will be offered from April 28 to Sept. 15 between 12:30 and 2:20 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Appointments can still be booked from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m.
The drop-in x-ray service is for chest, ribs, upper extremity work and lower extremity work.
Those who need two or more x-rays must book an appointment.
Janice Perrino of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation said the x-ray service in Summerland was busy in the past, when Summerland had a full hospital in place. Since the hospital was closed and the health centre opened, the x-ray service has not been as busy.
“We are trying to expand the service because we are not getting enough people who use it,” she said.
She said the drop-in service does not require additional staff time, since staff are already at the equipment.
The drop-in service will also help those who would otherwise go to Penticton for x-rays.
She said the equipment is just as good and uses the same technology as at the Penticton hospital.
“If we don’t use our services, we will lose our services,” she said.
