Shoreline Medical Plans Expansion to Address Physician Shortage

Shoreline Medical Society is taking steps to open a third clinic in Central Saanich, aiming to improve healthcare access for the approximately 14,000 residents on the Saanich Peninsula who currently lack a family doctor. The charity, which already operates two clinics in Sidney and Brentwood Bay, is responding to significant physician shortages affecting healthcare across British Columbia.

Leslie Keenan, the executive director of Shoreline Medical Society, expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “There’s so many on the peninsula that yet don’t have a physician, and we just don’t feel like our work is done until everybody on the peninsula has a family doctor or nurse practitioner.” The existing clinics provide primary care to over 15,900 patients, but the growing demand necessitates expanding their services.

Plans for Central Location and Expanded Youth Services

The proposed clinic in Central Saanich is part of a broader strategy to enhance healthcare access in the region. Over the next three years, Shoreline Medical plans to not only establish this new location but also expand youth services. Keenan remarked, “We are pretty excited, we’re not putting a shovel in the ground tomorrow, but we’re planning for it. If there’s any community partner that is interested in helping us with that, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with them.”

The need for more healthcare facilities has become increasingly evident as the province grapples with a growing shortage of primary care providers. In January 2024, Shoreline Medical closed its walk-in clinic due to overwhelming demand for services. This decision coincided with a record number of hospital admissions across the province, highlighting the strain on the healthcare system.

Addressing the Growing Demand for Healthcare

Recent statistics from Doctors of BC indicate that nearly one million people in British Columbia do not have a family doctor. This shortage has led to many individuals visiting emergency rooms without being seen by a physician, exacerbating the existing challenges within the healthcare framework.

Keenan’s commitment to establishing a more central location reflects the organization’s dedication to addressing these healthcare disparities. By opening a new clinic, Shoreline Medical aims to ensure that all residents on the Saanich Peninsula have access to the medical care they need.

As the initiative progresses, the Shoreline Medical Society remains focused on building partnerships and securing support to facilitate this important expansion. The hope is that, with community involvement, they can effectively meet the needs of the peninsula’s residents and contribute to alleviating the pressures faced by the healthcare system in British Columbia.