While Delta Hospital’s emergency room closes unpredictably, and there’s no sign soon of an urgent and primary care centre, South Delta is inching towards its own primary care network.
A service plan was filed with the Ministry of Health just before the October election and funding is expected by April, said Geri McGrath, executive-director with the Delta Division of Family Practice.
The division has been leading the efforts to create a primary care network in South Delta.
Delta and Abbotsford are the only two cities in the Fraser Health Authority that don’t have primary care networks.
The Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice has six primary care networks. That includes North Delta and all of Surrey which has a population of more than 600,000.
The networks create teams of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physiotherapists, counsellors, social workers, and other health professionals to create quicker, more streamlined care.
The Delta Division of Family Practice represents doctors in Ladner and Tsawwassen, with a combined population of more than 40,000, which continues to grow.
Creating a primary care network is a time-consuming, complex process that could take four to five years to roll out.
“We will be funded. It’s just a matter of when, hopefully soon,” McGrath said. “It’s good for the community. It’s exciting times. We can’t wait to begin.”
She added the division is not involved in creating an urgent and primary care centre.
“We have requested a new UPCC in South Delta several times, but so far, to no avail,” said McGrath, adding that it’s the Ministry of Health that decides.
Currently, there’s only one walk-in clinic in South Delta, the Lark Medical Clinic at Tsawwassen Commons, which is open three mornings a week, with appointments required.
McGrath said there continues to be a widespread shortage of health care personnel.
“There’s a shortage across the board from doctors to nurses to housekeeping. It’s just finding people, very difficult these days,” she said, adding it’s not just one cause.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said the government is opening urgent and primary care centres in fast-growing parts of B.C.
“We will continue to work with Fraser Health and the City of Delta to explore all options available – including the potential for a UPCC – to ensure people in the community have access to high-quality health care when they need it,” said Laura Stovel, senior public affairs officer with the Ministry of Health.
Urgent and primary care centres help people with non-emergency issues, such as sprains, cuts, or burns, aches and pains, with the aim of reducing the demands on hospital emergency departments.
So far, 38 have been opened around B.C.
Representatives from Fraser Health and Delta Hospital addressed Delta council questions at its March 3 meeting.
Council has also asked for another meeting with Fraser Health administration and Health Minister Josie Osborne.
