The West Coast Family Medical Clinic in Sooke will have expanded services and more staff by next year, according to an announcement on Friday.
The B.C. Ministry of Health has announced annual funding of $1 million to support operations, after Island Health contributed $600,000 for its renovation.
“Families in Sooke share government’s vision that better health is achievable through better access to primary health-care services,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, in a statement on Friday.
“The West Coast Family Medical Clinic expansion will have significant and lasting benefits for the individuals in Sooke who are unattached to consistent primary care.”
The plan is to gradually add five new health care professionals to the team for a total of 10 family physicians, three registered nurses, one nurse practitioner, a social worker, a registered dietitian and 11 medical office assistants.
The majority of the primary care resources, located at the clinic at 1300 – 6660 Sooke Rd, will be in place by August 2020, with all staff hired by January 2021.
With the expansion, the clinic will be able to accommodate 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.
At the moment, due to the pandemic, all patients are asked to call or book online to receive a virtual care assessment first.
