New urgent and primary care centre coming to Sooke

Building permits have been approved, people one step closer to primary care closer to home

Summary

• People in Sooke are one step closer to a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC), thanks to an innovative partnership between the District of Sooke, Catalyst Community Development, Island Health and BC Housing’s BC Builds program
• Patients can expect urgent access to primary care services from a team including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals
• The Sooke UPCC will be owned and operated by Island Health
• Construction of the building, which will include the UPCC and residential space, is expected to start in 2026, with site clearing and early works starting soon

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People in Sooke and surrounding communities will benefit from a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) closer to home, as building permits have been approved for a new development that will combine health services and housing.

“With the building permits now approved, we are one step further to deliver on our commitment to ensure people in Sooke get primary care services close to home,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Health. “This is part of our promise to improve primary care for everyone in the province. Since 2018, we’ve opened 48 UPCCs, including 12 on Vancouver Island.”

The UPCC will be at 2101 Sitka Court, formerly 6651 Wadams Way, in a six-storey building, which will include residential housing. The building, which is being developed by Catalyst Community Developments, will be constructed on land provided by the District of Sooke.

“The Sooke Region is experiencing continual growth and we need to ensure that we match the increasing needs for health care services close to home,” said Dana Lajeunesse, MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat. “Once open, the UPCC will complement the exemplary services already in place, thanks to the team at West Coast Family Medical Clinic, and will bring meaningful change to the thousands of residents of the region who do not have timely access to primary care.”

Construction on the building is expected to start in 2026. Site clearing and early works will be starting soon. When open, patients can expect to receive urgent access to primary care services from a team, including doctors, Island Health-employed nurses and allied health professionals.

The UPCC is estimated to cost approximately $8 million in capital funding.

This is part of the Province’s commitment to improve access to primary care for people throughout B.C. Since the first UPCC opened in 2018, people in B.C. have primary care access available closer to home with the 48 UPCCs that are open.

As well, government is growing B.C.’s health workforce, so more health-care professionals can provide health-care services, including primary care, to more people in the province. As part of a U.S. recruitment campaign by the Province, more than 700 U.S. health-care providers have accepted jobs in B.C. They include 171 physicians, 445 nurses, 78 nurse practitioners and 44 allied health professionals.

Quotes:

Stephanie Higginson, parliamentary secretary for primary care –

“The advancement to open a new UPCC in Sooke reflects our progress in building a stronger, more integrated primary‑care system that put people first. Our commitment remains to ensure people can rely on high-quality care that meets their people’s needs, when they need them.” 

Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health –

“This new urgent and primary care centre will make it easier for people in Sooke and surrounding communities to access the care they need closer to home. By bringing together physicians, nurses and allied health professionals in one location, we can help patients receive timely, team-based care and strengthen access to primary care in a growing community.” 

Maja Tait, mayor of Sooke -

“This project is moving from plans on paper to work on the ground. By bringing health care and housing together on one site, we are creating a community asset shaped by needs. This milestone reflects years of patience, advocacy and partnership. It will help residents access care closer to home while providing rental homes for people and families. We have carried this vision with unwavering commitment, and now we are ready to build.” 

Quick Facts:

• UPCCs are a partnership between the Ministry of Health, health authorities and partners such as Doctors of BC, Divisions of Family Practice and Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC.
• UPCCs are part of the primary care networks being established through B.C.’s primary care strategy.
• Together, the UPCCs have had almost five million visits, representing approximately 22,000 visits each week.
• Since the launch of the primary care strategy in 2018, one million people have been connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner in B.C.

Learn More:

• To sign up to be matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner on the Health Connect Registry, visit:
  https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry
• To learn more about the Province’s primary-care strategy, visit:
  https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010