People and families living in Colwood, Langford, Highlands and Metchosin will soon have more access to everyday primary health-care services and social supports with the opening of the new Westshore Community Health Centre (CHC) in spring 2022.

CHCs are community-governed, not-for-profit organizations with services tailored to meet the health needs of the community they serve. The Westshore CHC is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Pacific Centre Family Services Association. It forms part of the Western Communities Primary Care Network and will be governed, owned and operated by Pacific Centre Family Services Association in partnership with Island Health.

“We’ve listened to people in the Western Communities and are using our primary care strategy to build on the good work community organizations are already doing in the region,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The Westshore Community Health Centre will play a vital role to help connect residents who have been struggling to access a family doctor with the health care they need when they need it, closer to home.” 

The centre will be located in the Pacific Centre Family Services Association site at 324 Goldstream Ave., Colwood. The CHC will offer 16 exam rooms and six virtual care stations and support areas.

“People, especially in the Western Communities, need better access to consistent health care in the community, and the Westshore CHC will help do just that,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin and Minister of Children and Family Development. “At the centre, health-care providers will work together to provide comprehensive and patient-centred services to patients, so they can live their healthiest lives.”

A team of health-care providers, including family doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, community health workers and an Elder in Residence will offer primary care and health-promotion services that are culturally safe and comprehensive to patients attached to the CHC.

These services will be focused on people with mental-health conditions, substance-use disorders and multiple chronic health conditions, and for seniors, Indigenous Peoples and gender-diverse people.  

When complete, the centre will begin by opening Mondays to Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The B.C. government will provide approximately $4 million in operating budget once the centre reaches full capacity, and as much as $1.9 million for one-time startup costs.

Quotes:

Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health–

“Community Health Centres play an important role in offering person-centred approaches to health-care delivery. Once it opens, the Westshore Community Health Centre will provide Western Communities residents with better access to primary health-care services that are culturally safe and comprehensive.”

Shawna Adams, board chair, Pacific Centre Family Services Association (PCFSA) –

“PCFSA has developed extensive community partnerships and has been a leading force in community improvement, involvement and collaboration.  We are excited to have the Westshore CHC integrate with our existing services. The Westshore CHC will provide much-needed trauma-informed, integrated primary and mental health-care services to underserved individuals and families with complex needs in our community.”

Dr. Matthew Chow, president, Doctors of BC –

“We look forward to the integration of the Westshore Community Health Centre within primary-care networks to provide more timely access to health-care services while supporting those important long-term relationships and continuity of care that result in better health outcomes for patients.”

Dr. Randal Mason, co-chair, South Island Division of Family Practice –

“The Westshore Community Health Centre is a great example of collaboration between government and community organizations to develop a care system for people who face barriers or need additional support beyond what may be offered in a traditional family practice. The South Island Division of Family Practice is thankful for this much-needed resource within our Western Communities Primary Care Network.”

Quick Facts:

• CHCs are not-for-profit or co-operative health-care organizations that provide inter-professional primary care and actively address the social determinants of health.
• CHCs integrate services and programs in primary care, health promotion and community well-being and deliver people-centred services and programs that reflect the needs of the communities they serve.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Province’s primary care strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010

To learn more about Pacific Centre Family Services Association, visit: https://pacificcentrefamilyservices.org/