Great news for residents of Duncan and the surrounding area!
Soon, everyone will benefit from having better access to healthcare through a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC).
It will be located at 940 Government Street in downtown Duncan, and will provide same-day care for those needing timely support, but not emergency support. This includes conditions such as sprains, cuts, high fevers and minor infections.
The UPCC will be ideal for people that don’t have a primary care provider or are unable to access their provider within 12 to 24 hours.
Within the UPCC, longitudinal care will also be more accessible—which is where patients are seen regularly over a period of time to complete required observations.
“It’s important that everyone can access primary care, even outside of regular hours, as not everyone can easily step away from work, school or other priorities during the day,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health.
“This centre will be vital for rural communities, ensuring no one is left without essential care when they need it most, including youth and those in vulnerable situations.”
To ensure they’re meeting as many needs as they can, this centre, operated by Island Health, is a collaborative effort between Island Health, the Ministry of Health, Cowichan Primary Care Network, Indigenous communities/organizations and the Cowichan Division of Family Practice.
“This is a facility designed to align with existing services and help to meet the growing need for primary care,” said Dr. Carole Williams, co-chair of Cowichan Division of Family Practice.
“Collaboration will continue to be critical as we move forward.”
This patient-centred, team-based care centre will be operational seven days a week, and with construction already underway, it’s slated to open at some point in 2025.
The total cost of the UPCC is estimated at around $7 million—including costs of medical equipment, clinic furnishings and technology.
