Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Island Health

Communications
250 370 8878

Backgrounders

Facts about the Cowichan primary care network

According to BC Stats data, the communities that the Cowichan primary care network will serve have a combined population of 90,380. Services will be available in Cowichan and North Cowichan.
 

Primary care networks mean that patients:

  • who don’t have a regular primary care provider - a family doctor or nurse practitioner - will be able to get one;
  • will have an ongoing relationship with their primary care provider, which is important for their life-long health;
  • will get access to faster, more convenient care from their doctor or nurse practitioner and the care team;
  • will be provided and connected with a range of appropriate and accessible services and supports;
  • will be informed about all aspects of their care in community; and
  • will know where to go to get the care they need, even on evenings and weekends.

New resources being allocated include:

Cowichan PCN

  • 8 FTE family physicians
  • 5.0 FTE nurse practitioners
  • 9.2 FTE registered nurses
  • 1.0 FTE pharmacist
  • 13.0 FTE social workers, including 8 FTE to be based out of Central Cowichan and 2 FTE to be based out of Cowichan North
  • 1.0 FTE Indigenous primary care network leader  

Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)
What people are saying about primary care networks

Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health

“Island Health is pleased to contribute towards the advancement of a primary care network in the Cowichan region alongside the many dedicated care providers in the community. By working together with our partners, which include many Indigenous communities in the area, we can transform health-care journeys for patients in Cowichan, as well as the remarkable care professionals whose life’s work is dedicated to keeping families healthy and well.”

Dr. Jim Broere, Cowichan PCN physician lead

"These additional resources increase the sustainability of family practice across Cowichan. We are looking forward to strengthening team-based care and enhancing the connection between primary care and the social determinants of health – a key goal identified by physicians, nurse practitioners, and all our partners.”

Brennan MacDonald, executive director for Vancouver Island, First Nations Health Authority

“The planning, design and provision of culturally safe care in the primary care networks by and with First Nations is key to improving health outcomes and tackling systemic racism. The First Nations Elders, traditional practitioners and healers embedded in this network, will be critical to the success of this approach to inclusive, culturally relevant team-based care.”

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, especially those who strengthen longitudinal care in these pandemic times. 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 network. 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.”

Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)