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.

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.

Expanding the West Coast Family Medical Clinic in Sooke reflects government’s commitment to strengthening health care in the region and around the province. In November 2018, the Westshore Urgent Primary Care Centre in Langford opened its doors to enhance access to same-day and after-hours team-based care in the region.

People need reliable access to health care close to home. Expanding that access for families in Sooke & surrounding area was long overdue, so I was thrilled to be part of the opening of the newly expanded West Coast Family Medical Clinic in Sooke.https://t.co/72NYmyTfhu pic.twitter.com/xgyZlVaWRb

— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) June 12, 2020

West Coast Family Medical Clinic background

Project partners include 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 numerous public engagement events.

• The West Coast Family Medical Clinic is located at 1300 – 6660 Sooke Rd.
• The expansion of the West Coast Family Medical Clinic and the opening of the Westshore Urgent Primary Care Centre in fall 2018 reflect the Province’s primary care strategy, which is focused on providing all British Columbians with improved access to team-based health care.
• Primary care is the day-to-day health care given by a health-care provider. Urgent primary care is the care that people need within 12 to 48 hours, for conditions, such as sprains, urinary problems and minor cuts or burns.
• Throughout the province, 70% of communities will form primary care networks over the next three years.
• These networks will bring together and co-ordinate local health-care providers, services and programs, making it easier for people to access regular care providers, receive follow-up care and connect to other services they may need.