The Royal is proud to announce the approval of a new Urgent Care Clinic, a major step forward in improving access to mental illness and addiction care across our region.
This clinic will fill a critical gap in services, offering timely, specialized, and compassionate care for individuals in crisis. By creating an accessible alternative to emergency departments, the clinic will help reduce pressure on local hospitals and ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.
“At The Royal, we see every day how important it is for people to get mental health care when and where they need it most,” said Cara Vaccarino, President and CEO, The Royal. “This new Urgent Care Clinic is about improving access, building a more responsive system, and delivering care with compassion and dignity. It’s a reflection of our shared commitment to do better for our patients, families, and community.”
The Urgent Care Clinic, opening in spring 2026 at The Royal’s Ottawa campus on Carling Avenue, was developed in close collaboration with patients, families, and community partners to ensure it reflects lived experience, evidence-based best practices, and the real needs of those it will serve.
Aligned with The Royal’s new strategic plan, this initiative supports our mission to advance mental illness and addiction care, research, and education and help more people reclaim their lives from mental illness and addiction. It will also help enhance system performance by improving pathways to care and connecting patients more quickly with the services they need.
To bring this vital project to life, renovations will soon begin at The Royal. Early endorsement from our community, including donors, is a clear sign of how essential this service is and how strongly the community supports filling this gap.
Together, we’re building a more connected, compassionate, and responsive system of care — one that ensures help is there when it’s needed most.
