Medical
There is a shortage of family physicians accepting new patients in Greater Victoria and it can often be difficult to find a family physician. Walk-in clinics are a great option for families unable to secure a family doctor.
Quick Links
Accessing Medical Services
Here are some links to assist you receiving medical services:
| Resource | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Medimap | A great online resource to find the closest walk-in clinic and the wait time. | Visit Medimap |
| Victoria Medical Society | Up-to-date listings of physicians in Greater Victoria and the surrounding areas who are accepting new patients. | Visit VMS |
| Access Virtual | This virtual clinic gives you secure online access to family doctors, nurses, and specialists via a computer, tablet, or smartphone. | Visit Access Virtual |
| Babylon by Telus Health | A mobile app that allows you to check symptoms, see a B.C. doctor and easily access your clinical records all through your phone. | Visit Babylon |
| Maple | You can connect with doctors online from 7am to 9pm for medical care and treatment, and the Medical Services Plan (MSP) will cover your video visit. | Visit Maple |
| Viva Care | If you are a resident of B.C. and have a personal health number, you can also connect online with your computer to this free service. | Visit Viva Care |
| CloudMD | Offer evening and weekend appointments to B.C. residents. Can connect from desktop computer or Android or iOS device. | Visit CloudMD |
| Well Health VirtualClinic+ | Another option to connect with a doctor online. Free for B.C. residents. | Visit VirtualClinic+ |
| BC Nurse Line | 24-hour, confidential information and advice from a registered nurse. Can answer your questions about symptoms, health concerns, recommended course of action, and when to see a health professional. | 1-866-215-4700 |
| Find a Doctor BC | Search for a family doctor in British Columbia. | Visit site |
| Lumino Health | Find a health care provider in British Columbia. | Visit site |
Nurse Practitioner Clinic
There is a nurse practitioner led primary care clinic located in Victoria (close to Cook and Yates). This clinic is available for people in Victoria, Vic West, and Oak Bay.
Health Care on Yates – Primary Care Clinic
1139 Yates St (located in Victoria)
Note they have an intake form available on their website.
Notes on British Columbia
Residents are covered through British Columbia’s Medical Service Plan (MSP). This requires a monthly payment on a sliding scale made by each resident (which is normally deducted from the Canadian Forces member’s pay).
Health Cards in B.C. are called Care Cards. You can register for MSP online. However, often the Canadian Forces member initiates this process with the Base Orderly Room.
If you are relocating from another province, your current health care coverage will be valid for the first three months. Check with your current plan for more details about out-of-province coverage before you relocate.
Register for MSP Coverage Wait Period
Please note: A B.C. Care Card number is required for some specialized services, such as autism support or home nursing support. For Canadian Forces families in these types of situations, the case will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and the three- month wait period might be waived. Contact the military member’s pay and benefit clerk to initiate waiving the wait period.
Urgent Care
If you need emergency care, here are some places that can help.
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria General Hospital | 1 Hospital Way (located in View Royal) | 250-727-4212 |
| Royal Jubilee Hospital | 1900 Fort Street (located in Victoria) | 250-370-8000 |
| Saanich Peninsula Hospital | 2166 Mt. Newton X Rd (located in Central Saanich) | 250-544-7676 |
| Cowichan District Hospital | 3045 Gibbins Rd (located in Duncan) | 250-737-2030 |
| Westshore Urgent Primary Care Centre | 582 Goldstream Ave (located in Colwood) | 250-519-6919 |
| James Bay Urgent Primary Care Centre | 547 Michigan St (located in Victoria) | 250-519-3770 |
Tips
Here are some tips to help you find a family doctor in Greater Victoria:
Check with your current family physician
Your current family doctor may have some tips to help your family find a new physician. They may know of a physician accepting new patients in your new city.
Start your search early
Phone the MFRC to see if they have recommendations. Phone doctor’s offices to see if they are accepting new patients.
Check with friends or co-workers who already live in the area
Current residents may know of a family doctor accepting patients. If you know a family who is moving away from Victoria, ask their family physician if you can take their spot.
Use the same walk-in clinic each time
By using the same walk-in clinic, they can keep a medical file about you that will record your appointments, prescriptions, special needs and any other health concerns. If the clinic gets to know you and your family, they might also be able to let you know when another physician in town is accepting patients.
Finding a Dentist
The College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia will help you find registered, licensed dentists as well as certified dental assistants (CDAs).
DND offers a dental plan for family members (spouse/common law partner and children) that is administered by Great West Life. This coverage does not change as you move from province to province. If your family members (spouse/common law partner and children) are not covered by this plan, the military member can go to his or her Base Orderly Room or ships’ office to fill out the application form.
You will need to call individual clinics to see if they will do direct billing to Great West Life.
Public Service Health Care Plan
PSHCP is an optional extended health care benefit plan administrated by Sun Life. This coverage does not change as you move from province to province. If your family members (spouse/common law partner and children) are not covered by this plan, the military member can go to his or her Base Orderly Room or ship’s office to fill out and submit the application form. This coverage is designed to help pay for some of the health services that are not covered by the provincial health insurance plan. More information and application forms can be found on the Sun Life website.
