Victoria General Hospital to Close Pediatric Clinic Temporarily

A pediatric clinic at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) will close temporarily on September 1, 2023. The Urgent Pediatric Assessment Clinic (UPAC) has served local children since its establishment in 2019, aimed at reducing emergency department admissions and expediting patient discharges through prompt follow-up care with pediatricians. Island Health confirmed the clinic’s closure on August 21, citing increased demand for pediatric services as a primary factor.

UPAC ceased accepting new referrals on August 15. The closure comes as VGH’s pediatrics on-call group faces significant challenges due to the rising volume and complexity of cases. This surge has led to heightened workloads, physician burnout, and difficulties in retaining staff, according to a statement from Island Health.

Temporary Closure Addressing Rising Demand

The pediatrics group announced the closure to redirect resources towards more urgent care needs. “We continue our commitment to work collaboratively with Island Health to provide safe and compassionate care and to continue to build a sustainable pediatric program in our community that meets the needs of our expanding pediatric population,” the group stated. They expressed hope for the clinic’s reopening with expanded services in the near future.

Island Health supports this sentiment and is “determined to work with the doctors to get this service reopened as soon as possible.” The health authority has been collaborating with the pediatrics group to tackle workload and compensation concerns. They have developed a proposed service model aimed at enhancing recruitment and retention of staff to prevent further service reductions.

Future Plans and Immediate Solutions

In a positive development, the Ministry of Health has approved an alternative payment arrangement application from Island Health. The health authority is set to negotiate a new contract for the pediatrics group with the Health Employers Association of B.C. “as soon as possible.” During the clinic’s closure, urgent pediatric consultations will continue to be facilitated through the emergency department.

The temporary closure of the UPAC highlights ongoing challenges within pediatric healthcare in the region. Both Island Health and the pediatrics group are committed to finding solutions that will ensure the continued provision of necessary services to the community’s children.