Change is in the wind for one of the Peninsula’s longest-standing walk-in medical clinics.
Shareholders of Peace Arch Community Medical Clinic, located in the Uptown Medical Centre, voted last month to not renew the site’s lease, which expires in October.
Exactly what that means for the 1545 Johnston Rd. clinic has not been set in stone. There will be no change until the end of March, at which time it’s possible another group of doctors may simply take over and continue operations.
“Everybody’s working to try to keep it open,” said Dr. Gerald Roberts, a clinic shareholder and chair of the after-hours-care working group for the White Rock-South Surrey Division of Family Practice.
“The best message at this point is we’re trying to have Peace Arch medical clinic in its present location in some form.”
While in the same building, the Uptown Medical Centre is a separate entity from the walk-in clinic, and not part of the upcoming changes.
The walk-in first opened in South Surrey, on 152 Street near 18 Avenue, 23 years ago. An initiative of about 30 family doctors who saw “a huge gap” in the community for after-hours care.
If it closes, “what it reflects… is that there’s not co-ordinated after-hours care,” Roberts said. “It would be a hole in the community, there’s no question about that.”
Clinic manager Kathie Torhjelm said a key reason behind last month’s decision is a shortage of physicians to fill shifts. Many who started the clinic are ready to retire; and, doctors new to the community are more family oriented – not looking to take on hours beyond their regular practice, she said.
Still, “it’s a little too early to tell” now exactly how things will look at the end of March, she said, noting a transition committee is “actively seeking and meeting with” people potentially interested in taking over. Regardless of the direction, every effort will be made to make any change as seamless as possible, she said.
“The whole model of our clinic has always been community service,” she said.
Another aspect that factored into the situation has been the success of local efforts to attach people to a family doctor, and encourage them to make that doctor their first call when health issues arise.
Nancy Mathias, executive director of the Division of Family Practice, said a central registry of doctors through the Primary Care Access Clinic (604-531-3111) has offered ‘orphan’ patients physician options continuously for the past two years. Since launching five years ago, the Division has attracted about a dozen new doctors to the community, she added.
“If you want one, we can find you a family doctor. That’s an amazing point to get to,” Mathias said.
At the same time, “as you attach more patients, people have less need for a walk-in clinic.”
Dr. Steve Larigakis, board chair of the Division, agreed clinics have been impacted “to an extent” by the efforts. However, they “still have a place,” he said.
Roberts said the Peace Arch clinic has “been a victim of our own success, in some ways.”
Noting the clinic is not funded by the Division or Fraser Health – and offers care options most other clinics don’t, including dressing changes and injections – he said it “has to make economic sense” to continue operating.
Roberts said Fraser Health officials have objected to a closure, citing increased pressure on the hospital. At the same time, he said the health authority has not come up with funds to abate the issues or establish an alternate urgent-care clinic.
The latter, funded and staffed by Fraser Health, is "one of the dreams… that many of us would like to see happen," he said.
"If Fraser Health really wants urgent care provided and to relieve the pressure on Peace Arch Hospital, they have to come up with some of the responsibility of funding it and running it," Roberts said.
"They're going to have to come to the plate at some point."
Asked for comment, a Fraser Health spokesperson said by email that the health authority is "confident the Division, in partnership with the physicians, will reach a solution that ensures patients in the community continue to receive the care they need."
Torhjelm said more information is expected in the coming weeks, and will be shared with the community. Patients with questions may call 604-535-8496.