SOOKE – People in Sooke now have better access to team-based primary care, with the opening of the newly expanded West Coast Family Medical Clinic.
The expansion of the West Coast Family Medical Clinic is a collaboration with local physicians, Island Health, the South Island Division of Family Practice, community organizations, such as the Sooke Region Community Health Initiative and Sooke Family Resource Society and residents who attended public engagement events.
“People need reliable access to health care close to home,” said Premier John Horgan. “This new clinic will deliver primary health care for people in the fast-growing community of Sooke and the surrounding area. It is part of our government’s focus on helping people with the things that matter most.”
The new space includes annual incremental provincial funding of $1 million to support team-based care at the clinic. Island Health has overseen the renovations of the site and contributed approximately $600,000 in one-time capital funding to the renovation.
Five new health-care professionals will gradually join the team, which will include a total of 10 family physicians, three registered nurses, one nurse practitioner, a social worker, a registered dietitian and 11 medical office assistants. Most of the primary care resources will be brought on board by August 2020, with full staffing completed by January 2021.
The addition of team-based care increases the clinic’s capacity to offer primary care, newborn and post-partum care, non-emergency urgent care, palliative care and medical services for the Elders’ Wellness Clinic at the T’Souke Nation and long-term care in the community.
Recruitment is underway. When fully staffed, the West Coast Family Medical Clinic anticipates having the capacity to connect approximately 4,250 currently unattached patients to their primary care team and accommodate about 300 patient visits a day.
The West Coast Family Medical Clinic is normally open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Opening hours have been temporarily reduced to 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays as part of the clinic’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, all patients are asked to call or book online to receive a virtual care assessment first. If required, staff will arrange to follow up with patients in-person.
