Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Island Health

Communications
250 370-8878

Backgrounders

Facts about the Oceanside primary care network

According to BC Stats data, the communities that the Oceanside primary care network will serve have a combined population of 50,720. Services will be available in Oceanside and Errington.

Primary care networks mean that patients:

  • who do not 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:

  • seven Full-time equivalent (FTE) nurse practitioners
  • three FTE family physicians
  • 1.5 FTE physician group contracts
  • six FTE registered nurses
  • one FTE social worker
  • two FTE occupational therapists
  • one FTE clinical pharmacist
  • two resources in support of Indigenous health
    • one FTE traditional knowledge keeper 
    • one FTE mental health and substance use social worker

Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

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

Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health –

“It takes a village to establish a primary care network and we are grateful to our partners, including the Qualicum First Nation and Snaw-Naw-As First Nation, who have been offering valuable guidance and advice during the formation of the Oceanside PCN. Primary care networks are a testament to the value of teamwork both while the PCN is being developed and once services are provided.”

Evelyn Clark, executive director, Central Island Division of Family Practice –

“The Oceanside PCN will allow people without a primary care provider to now be able to find a caregiver in the area without having to travel out of town. It is an exciting opportunity for primary care providers to offer team-based care that may include a registered nurse, a social worker and/or a pharmacist to care for frail and elderly patients and other members of our community.”

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 that 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)