Health
Summary
- New urgent and primary-care centre opens Tuesday, March 31, 2026, offering year-round, seven-day access to urgent, primary care for people on the UBC campus and in surrounding communities
- The facility at 6165 Agronomy Rd. has capacity for approximately 58,000 patient visits annually
- Through a team-based model, the centre will provide urgent and episodic care within 12-24 hours, including sprains, minor infections and cuts requiring stitches, and is co-located with medical imaging services
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Students and staff at the UBC campus and residents of surrounding communities have improved access to timely, team-based care with the opening of the UBC Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
“Because of this centre, more students, staff and residents at UBC will be able to access the urgent, same-day health care they need, when they need it,” said Premier David Eby. “This centre is a part of our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to primary care in their community.”
The new UPCC at 6165 Agronomy Rd. in Vancouver, provides urgent and episodic care from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sundays, including statutory holidays. It has the capacity to accommodate approximately 58,000 patient visits annually.
“Timely, accessible care is essential for people, and this UPCC at UBC will improve access to team-based services while helping ease pressure on emergency departments,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “People will be able to get care for urgent and ongoing needs in one place, including access to X-ray services.”
Team-based approach connects people to urgent primary care
The centre provides care through an interdisciplinary team-based model, bringing together physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals. It is opening with approximately 15 full-time equivalent (FTE) clinical staff and at full capacity, the 19.56 FTE clinical staff will be supported with 9.95 FTE non-clinical staff.
“Our integrated, team-based clinicians and staff are ready to welcome patients to the new UBC Urgent and Primary Care Centre,” said Vivian Eliopoulos, president and CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health. “This centre strengthens our commitment to accessible, safe and timely care for the UBC community and surrounding neighbourhoods. As a learning hub, it will also support the development of future health-care professionals while ensuring people receive high-quality urgent and primary care when they need it.”
People who have urgent, non-life-threatening conditions such as fever, minor cuts that may need stitches, burns, headaches or ear aches and sprains but do not require emergency department services will have access to health care at this UPCC.
The UPCC is designed to meet a variety of health-care needs, including diagnosing and treating new or urgent health problems, connecting people to more specialized services and supporting people to self-manage chronic health conditions. Care is delivered primarily through in-person visits, with virtual care provided as needed.
The Ministry of Health, with Vancouver Coastal Health, has approved more than $6 million in annual operating costs as well as one-time amounts of $330,000 for startup costs. The total capital cost is approximately $17.6 million, funded jointly by the Province and Vancouver Coastal Health.
The Province is committed to providing timely, high-quality care when and where people need it. The UBC UPCC is a key part of B.C.’s plan to strengthen primary care, improving access to same-day urgent and primary care, connecting people to co-ordinated, team-based services in their community and easing pressure on hospital emergency departments.
Quick Facts:
- This UPCC complements other health-care services available in the area, including UBC Hospital and UBC Student Health Services.
- This is the eighth UPCC operated by Vancouver Coastal Health and 47th in the province.
Learn More:
- To learn more about the UPCCs in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, visit: https://www.vch.ca/en/service/urgent-and-primary-care-centre-upcc
- To sign up to be matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner on the Health Connect Registry, visit: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry
- To learn more about the Province's Primary Care Strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010
A backgrounder follows.
