Residents of Delta and surrounding communities have improved access to urgent primary care with the opening of the South Delta After Hours Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC).

“People and families want care that’s easy to access and available close to home,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Our government is working hard to deliver that. The South Delta After Hours UPCC will improve access to timely care and strengthen health and well-being for people across Delta.”

The new South Delta After Hours UPCC is located with the South Delta Home Health and Public Health Clinic at 1826-4949 Canoe Pass Way in Tsawwassen. The clinic provides care to people who need support within 12 to 24 hours for health concerns such as sprains, cuts that need stitches, fevers and minor infections, but do not require emergency-department services.

“The Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation has long advocated for expanded health services for Delta, and we are proud to now support this initiative through funding,” said Lisa Hoglund, Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation. “This program is the result of strong partnerships with Fraser Health and other community champions, and we’re excited to see it come to life for the benefit of residents who need timely, compassionate care outside of regular hours.”

The UPCC provides comprehensive, culturally safe and person-centred after-hours urgent and episodic primary care, and is staffed by primary care providers and registered nurses.

“The establishment of the new South Delta After Hours UPCC represents a significant milestone for our community,” said George V. Harvie, mayor of Delta. “By providing convenient, after-hours access to health-care services, this development will strengthen support for residents in Delta and across the region. This is a development the City of Delta is pleased to welcome.”

After-hours urgent and episodic primary-care services are available from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on weekends and statutory holidays. Plans are to extend until 4 p.m.

The clinic expects to serve an estimated 6,000 patients per year and will complement the 10 UPCCs delivering care in the Fraser Health region.

The South Delta After Hours UPCC is funded by the Ministry of Health with additional funding provided by the Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation. The Delta Division of Family Practice and Tsawwassen First Nation are important partners in launching this new service.

Quotes:

Cheryl Beach, executive director, Primary Care and Chronic Disease Management, Fraser Health –

“Access to community-based urgent primary care helps keep people well in the community and out of the hospital. We know this is better health care for people who don’t require hospital care and better for the health system. Today’s opening of the South Delta After Hours UPCC provides an important connection to care outside of regular primary care provider hours, closer to home.”

Cathy Wiebe, executive director, White Rock-South Surrey and South Delta Community, and Peace Arch and Delta Hospitals, Fraser Health –

“Today marks an important milestone for the Delta community as we open the South Delta After Hours UPCC. This new option strengthens access to community-based urgent and episodic primary care, providing people with an alternative place to seek care for non-emergent situations. I am grateful to our partners, the Fraser Health board and executive, and our dedicated staff and medical staff, whose hard work made it possible to launch this service for the community.”

Quick Facts:

• Last fiscal year, approximately 56% of visits to the Delta Hospital Emergency Department were classified as less urgent or non-urgent.
• The South Delta After Hours UPCC will help improve timely access to urgent primary care, as well as help reduce the number of patients who go to the emergency department at Delta Hospital.