Health & Wellness

Updated August 28, 2023

Addressing the health and social needs of Sooke residents is an important factor in building a community that is able to grow and prosper.

By focusing on building not just the physical infrastructure of our community, but also the social infrastructure, local elected officials work hand in hand with service organizations and other levels of government to contribute to citizen’s health and social needs.

Financial resources and responsibility for public health care rest largely within the provincial government. As such, the role of a local government is often an advocacy one, bringing together local voices and elevating the health care needs of the community to other levels of government.

On this page, learn more about available health and wellness services, and local advocacy to support our community thrive!

IN THE NEWS:

Health Connect Registry

If you live in British Columbia and need a family doctor or nurse practitioner, register for the Health Connect Registry. When you register, you are added to a centralized registry of primary care providers across your community. Registration takes less than 10 minutes. You need to provide:

  • Personal Health Number (PHN), found on your BC Services Card
  • Home address
  • Email address and phone number

Learn more and register today >>

Health Link BC, 811

8-1-1 is a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line available in British Columbia. The 8-1-1 phone line is operated by HealthLink BC, which is part of the Ministry of Health. By calling 8-1-1, you can speak to a health service navigator, who can help you find health information and services; or connect you directly with a registered nurse, a registered dietitian, a qualified exercise professional, or a pharmacist. Any one of these healthcare professionals will help you get the information you need to manage your health concerns, or those of your family.

Learn more about Health Link BC >>

Prescription Services BC Pharmacists

As of June 1, 2023, B.C. residents can seek treatment for 21 minor ailments and contraception directly from a pharmacist. This service is free to every B.C. resident with a Personal Health Number (found on your BC Services Card), when provided in person, in a pharmacy.

Learn more about this service >>

West Coast Family Medical Clinic

West Coast Family Medical Clinic is located at #1300-6660 Sooke Rd and provides family and urgent care services in Sooke. Visit their website >>

Note: Demand for urgent care services often exceeds their capacity. The Clinic shares, “To help us better serve those in our community with urgent medical issues or without a Primary Care Provider, please make every effort to see your own Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner for your medical concerns whenever possible. To help us better serve those in our community with urgent medical issues or without a Primary Care Provider, please make every effort to see your own Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner for your medical concerns whenever possible.”

Primary Health Care Services Working Group and Sooke Region Primary Health Care

In December of 2013, the Primary Health Care Services Working Group (PHCSWG) was formed, based on input from the community and an existing municipal initiative to address broad health and social needs. The PHCSWG brings together local and regional health care professionals, and since 2013 the group has tackled a multitude of community health needs, including:

Sooke Region Primary Health Care

After many years of advocacy work, an expansion of the West Coast Family Medical Clinic was completed in June 2020. Further information regarding the expansion can be found here: https://sooke.ca/bc-govt-news-release-clinic-expansion-sooke/

Background: 

The idea of a “one-stop shop” Health Care Centre had been discussed in Sooke for more than a decade, with several proposals coming forward during that time. Varying circumstances halted each proposal, but the need for expanded primary care has not changed.

In partnership with the physicians of the West Coast Family Medical Clinic, the PHCSWG brought intense focus to improving Primary Health Care for the Sooke Region. Representatives from Island Health joined forces with the working group in 2017, a large stakeholder engagement session was held in November 2017 and a Public Open House held in June 2018.

Feedback from our Health Services Planning Open House on June 16, 2018

Thank you to everyone who took the time to come to the Open House regarding Sooke primary care services. The feedback we received reflected and validated what we heard from the previous stakeholders’ event which is summarized in the Sooke Community Health Service Planning Document.

  • A summary of feedback we received from the Open House event, including “next steps” can be found here: Open House Feedback
  • In case you missed the Open House, you can view the poster boards here: Poster Boards