In a major win for local advocates, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services has determined that the St. Andrews Urgent Care Center in Boothbay Harbor must be operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In its decision memo, released today, Thursday, May 29, DHHS granted a “Certificate of Need” for the creation of Lincoln County Healthcare and the merger of St. Andrews and Miles Memorial Hospital — with conditions.

“I have determined that the ordinary economic development of healthcare for the Boothbay region would be adversely affected, and this specific application would have to be denied if the applicant who provided acute emergency care was not required to maintain an appropriate urgent care presence,” Commissioner Mary Mayhew wrote in her decision letter.

“The commenters have made this clear, and I have approved conditions requiring 24-7 urgent care services.”

The 24/7 urgent care services must begin within three months of approval of the application, the decision states.

The decision also describes several options under which the 24/7 care could cease after a little as 18 months’ time — if LincolnHealth shows that use of the center hasn’t offset “marginal operating costs.”

This story will be updated.