Improving primary care in White Rock and South Surrey

“As part of our government’s primary care strategy, we’re transforming the way people throughout the province access health care. Through primary care networks, we are supporting team-based health care and giving people a seamless patient-centred experience that is responsive to the unique needs of each community,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The primary care network in White Rock-South Surrey will further support residents in getting access to the comprehensive health care they need and deserve.”

The Ministry of Health will provide approximately $4 million in annual funding to the primary care network once it is fully established.

Over the next four years, residents of White Rock and South Surrey will benefit from more than 28 full-time equivalent health professionals who will provide people with better access to primary care. These health-care providers include family physicians, registered nurses, and allied health professionals such as social workers, patient educators, mental health clinicians and a pharmacist. In addition, the primary care network will increase access to counselling services.

The White Rock-South Surrey primary care network will see community partners work together to ensure approximately thousands of people have access to comprehensive, co-ordinated and team-based health care services for all their day-to-day primary care needs. 

The network will provide a full range of accessible, everyday health services that will better support patients and providers. The network was developed to better meet the specific needs of the community and to strengthen services identified as a high priority. These include:

• enhanced team-based care to ensure seamless access to health care services and increase support for patients and providers;
• enhanced access to primary care services for vulnerable patients;
• enhanced services for mild- to-moderate mental health clients; and
• culturally safe care for all.

For people and families, it means getting faster, better access to their primary care team or provider, even on evenings and weekends, as well as being connected to appropriate services and supports in the community.

Over the next four years, the network will work to attach 8,900 patients to a consistent primary care provider in the region, while also providing team-based and culturally safe care to local residents.  

The primary care network is a partnership between the Ministry of Health, Fraser Health and the White Rock-South Surrey Division of Family Practice. The planning and implementation of the primary care network has also been supported by First Nations Health Authority and Métis Nation BC.