The ongoing doctor shortage in Greater Victoria has caused the closure of one of three walk-in clinics on the West Shore and a cutback in opening hours at another.
St. AnthonyB次元官网网址檚 Treatment Centre on Goldstream Avenue, which opened in 1981, has eliminated weekend hours and is only open sporadically during the week due to the unavailability of doctors.
A centre spokesperson suggested that people should call ahead if they need to attend, or visit medimap.ca, which provides hours of operation and information on wait times for all South Vancouver Island walk-in clinics.
A spokesperson for Primacy-Parkway clinic, located inside the Real Canadian Superstore, said they had to close last summer after their regular doctor retired, but they hope to replace him soon.
Colwood Medical on Sooke Road remains in full operation, including weekends.
Langford resident Brett Rogers, an automotive mechanic, found out the hard way about the lack of service when he went to St. AnthonyB次元官网网址檚 and then Primacy-Parkway on a Saturday recently, only to find both clinics closed.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 frustrating,B次元官网网址� said Rogers, who ended up going to Tillicum Medical Clinic at Tillicum Centre in Saanich. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 want to spend the whole day running around trying to find a clinic thatB次元官网网址檚 open.B次元官网网址�
Adding to his frustration is the fact he has been unable to find a family physician for seven years.
According to the B.C. Ministry of Health, walk-in clinics are privately managed operations, usually run by doctors.
B次元官网网址淕overnment does not have any power to keep them open or control their hours, and neither do the health authorities,B次元官网网址� Lori Cascaden, ministry media relations and issue management manager, said in an e-mail. B次元官网网址淭hat being said, we know it can be stressful for patients when a clinic does close or hours change.B次元官网网址�
Although she said B.C. has significantly more physicians than the Canadian average, the Ministry of Health is working with doctors to improve access to primary care through community-based groups of local family doctors called Divisions of Family Practice.
B次元官网网址淲estshore falls under the South Island Division of Family Practice, which is working to find community level solutions to meet the needs of the local population,B次元官网网址� Cascaden said.
The Divisions of Family Practice have recruited more than 170 doctors since 2013, she noted.
The non-profit Victoria Medical Society, functions as an information resource for working and retired doctors and the public. A spokesperson said although they try to keep up-to-date information on clinics and hours on their website, they are unable to keep up with changes caused by a shortage of doctors B次元官网网址� they emphasized that people going to walk-in clinics should call ahead.
reporter@gioldstreamgazette.com
