Urgent Medical Care Center Could Become Reality With Zoning Change

Portsmouth could possibly see the creation of an urgent medical care facility in the near future.

The Town Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a zoning change for a Freeborn Street property from residential to commercial. The property, Map 34, Lot 7, is located at 33 Freeborn St., next to the Portsmouth Free Public Library and behind BankNewport.

Dr. Terry McWilliams, vice president of medical affairs at Newport Hospital, petitioned the board for the zoning change on behalf of the hospital.

McWilliams said he plans to use the new building on site for either medical offices or an urgent care medical center.

According to McWilliams, the sale of the property at 33 Freeborn St. was contingent upon the zoning change.

Now that the Town Council has approved the change, Newport Hospital will go forward with the purchase of the property.

"We had a previous sales agreement in place," said McWilliams. "The intention will be to take down the existing building."

The 35,284-sq.-ft. property currently on site will be demolished to make way for a new commercial structure, which will house either medical offices or an urgent care facility.

"I think it (an urgent care center) is great," said the property's current owner, Geraldine Grondin.

"My mother would have wanted that," said Grondin's sister, Pat Souza.

Newport Hospital currently owns and operates an imaging center located on Turnpike Avenue, not far from the Freeborn Street property.

While McWilliams said that while the building's purpose is still undecided, an urgent care facility is one possibility for its use. 

"We still have to go through design, development, planning," McWilliams said. "We're not absolute about what will go on that property. However, this was a major starting point. We're very appreciative of the council for approving this change."

An urgent care center in town would potentially treat patients for "acute walk-in care," such as sprains, migraines or other ailments that would not require emergency care.

There are currently no other urgent care medical facilities in Portsmouth. The nearest urgent care is located in Middletown on Valley Road and the next closest is located in Fall River, MA.