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Backgrounders

Facts about the North Shore primary care networks
Updated on Aug. 5, 2020

According to BC Stats data, the communities that the North Shore primary care networks will serve have a combined population of more than 208,000. Services will be available in the districts of North and West Vancouver, the Tsleil Waututh Nation, the City of North Vancouver, the Squamish Nation, the municipalities of Bowen Island, and Lions Bay. 

New resources being allocated include:

  • 25 full-time equivalent (FTE) primary care resources for increasing primary care providers, which will increase primary care attachment and access in the North Shore area:
    • 10 FTE family physicians
    • 15 FTE registered nurses
  • 16 FTE primary care resources for the implementation of a satellite team that will serve all three North Shore primary care networks
    • 13 FTE allied health professionals
    • 3 FTE clinical pharmacists
  • 4 FTE primary care resources for the Hope Incubator Clinic, associated with the University of British Columbia medical program.
    • 3 FTE family physicians
    • 1 FTE registered nurse
  • 6.5 FTE primary care resources for the Health Connections Clinic. This clinic serves the most vulnerable people in the North Shore region.
    • 2.5 FTE family physicians or nurse practioners
    • 3 FTE registered nurses
    • 1 FTE allied health providers
  • 2.5 FTE primary care resources for the Foundry Youth Health Services Health Connections Clinic. This clinic serves youth within the North Shore region. 
    • 1 FTE family physician or nurse practitioner
    • 1.5 allied health providers
  • 8 FTE primary care resources for First Nations and Aboriginal Primary Care Strategies. 
    • 1 FTE family physician
    • 1 FTE nurse practitioner
    • 1 FTE registered nurse
    • 2 FTE allied health provider
    • 1.5 FTE Traditional Healer
    • 1.5 FTE Traditional Elder
What people are saying about primary care networks

Dr. Penny Ballem, board chair, Vancouver Coastal Health –

“Partnerships with Aboriginal communities and the division of family practice are foundational to our approach to building and sustaining a system of strong, culturally safe health services in the North Shore region and across Vancouver Coastal Health. By working together with our partners, we know the primary care network will reflect the unique cultural and health-care needs of the North Shore.”

Dr. Dean Brown, physician lead, the North Shore Division of Family Practice –

“As a doctor, I know patients can have a fragmented health-care experience, and I am confident the new North Shore primary care networks will improve the patient experience greatly, ensuring people get the right care, at the right time, by the right provider.”

Dr. Raymond Chaboyer, a Cree First Nations doctor and chair of the North Shore Division of Family Practice –

“The North Shore Division and our local Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nation partners are especially grateful to the Ministry of Health for formally incorporating traditional First Nations Elders and Healers into the health-care system and into our local primary care networks. This is a truly ground-breaking initiative that will enable culturally safe support and care for our First Nations patients. This North Shore PCN will allow a more team-oriented approach to the provision of primary care on the North Shore. The North Shore Division of Family Practice enthusiastically endorses these primary care networks and welcomes them to the North Shore.”

Dr. Kathleen Ross, president, Doctors of BC –

“The best health-care systems in the world have strong primary care and we hope that the primary care network initiative provides additional needed resources to doctors serving their community. A primary care network will collectively increase a community’s capacity to provide greater access to primary care for those who need it, especially for vulnerable patients and those with complex health conditions.”  

Michael Sandler, executive director, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC –

“The Association of the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC is pleased that the knowledge, skills and expertise of the entire health-care team will improve access to health care for British Columbians through the new primary care networks. We believe that this approach will be pivotal in ensuring B.C. families feel connected to their health-care team and we are excited to see the launch of primary care networks in B.C."