By Graham Taylor, Executive Manager,
JBCP Primary Health Centre & Victoria Youth Clinics

Are there really 10,000 people in Greater Victoria who are without a family physician and are actively looking for one? It’s not news to many to say that there are thousands of residents in Victoria who are struggling to find access to a family physician or another primary health care provider. The James Bay Community Project Primary Health Centre receives new patient requests, from young families with newborns to the frail elderly; and from people living in James Bay, Fairfield, the downtown core, and as far away as Sooke. The need for care is identified by the numerous calls received that start with, “Are you accepting new patients?” The four physicians and one advanced practice nurse at the Health Centre always strive to accept as many new patients as possible, and they understand how difficult it is in Victoria to find a family physician or nurse practitioner who provides comprehensive primary health care.

The Health Centre is funded by the Ministry of Health and the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). From 2003 though 2006, the Health Centre was very fortunate to have three advanced practice nurses working alongside four family physicians. Due to funding constraints, the Health Centre has had its nursing staff reduced over the last two years from three positions to one. The reduction of nursing services has significantly limited the ability of the Centre to meet the growing demand to increase the number of patients seen at the Centre.

The Health Centre has recently been approved by VIHA to have a new nurse practitioner. The current team is excited about the possibility of adding this type of highly skilled, highly independent health care practitioner. Unfortunately the Ministry of Health does not currently have funding for this approved position, and given a difficult upcoming budget year for government, it could be many months before funding becomes available. Nurse Practitioners are licensed to have their own patient practices, and the Health Centre team believes adding a highly skilled nurse practitioner is a great way to address the “access to primary health care” pressures within our communities.

Given the vibrant retirement community that exists in James Bay and Fairfield, it is not surprising that the Ministry of Health statistics indicate that the Health Centre has many elderly patients (e.g. 240 patients over the age of 90 years) within its practice. When combining the elderly patient population with the Health Centre’s hundreds of complex care patients (e.g. patients with diabetes, hypertension, or with a mental health or addiction problem), the Ministry of Health shows that the Health Centre has one of the highest percentages of complex patient populations in our Province. Yet, the physicians’ and nurses’ high quality patient care results in fewer hospital admissions when compared to other areas. That’s a positive health outcome to my mind.

I’m extremely fortunate to have such a highly qualified and dedicated team working at the James Bay Community Project Health Centre and at our Victoria Youth Clinics. I remain hopeful and dedicated to improving access to comprehensive primary health-care services in Victoria.