Victoria Pediatric Clinic Closure Sparks Discussions on New Care Model and ER Bypass
As of September 1, a pediatric clinic at Victoria General Hospital will temporarily close due to increased workload concerns among pediatricians, prompting Island Health to negotiate a new service model with the Ministry of Health. The closure raises concerns about added pressure on the hospital's emergency room, as pediatricians are already managing a growing number of deliveries and emergencies. Island Health aims to develop a more sustainable model that allows children to bypass the ER for pediatric care, with hopes of reopening the clinic later this fall.
Live conditions: Open live road conditions
Summary
As of September 1, a pediatric clinic at Victoria General Hospital will temporarily close due to increased workload concerns among pediatricians, prompting Island Health to negotiate a new service model with the Ministry of Health. The closure raises concerns about added pressure on the hospital's emergency room, as pediatricians are already managing a growing number of deliveries and emergencies. Island Health aims to develop a more sustainable model that allows children to bypass the ER for pediatric care, with hopes of reopening the clinic later this fall.
Details
A pediatric clinic in Victoria has announced its temporary closure as of September 1, 2023, amid ongoing negotiations with the Ministry of Health regarding a new pediatric service model. The Urgent Pediatric Assessment Clinic (UPAC) at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) will cease operations due to increasing workload concerns among pediatricians. Dr. Ben Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Island Health, explained that the rising demands on pediatric services have made the current model unsustainable.
VGH's pediatric services are among the most comprehensive in the region, second only to BC Children’s Hospital. However, the hospital is facing challenges as pediatricians are now attending to 60% of deliveries, a significant increase attributed to a growing population and an older demographic of mothers. In addition to their delivery responsibilities, pediatricians are also on call for emergencies and oversee the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The UPAC, which typically sees 8 to 12 patients weekly, was initially established to alleviate pressure on emergency room staff and reduce wait times for specialist consultations.
Island Health is currently working on a new care model that aims to distribute the workload more evenly among pediatricians, making it easier to recruit additional staff. Dr. Williams emphasized the importance of developing a system that allows children to bypass the emergency room and receive timely care directly from pediatricians. However, BC Conservative Health Critic Anna Kindy has raised concerns that the closure will exacerbate the existing strain on the hospital's emergency department, potentially leading to longer wait times and increased risks for patients.
As negotiations with the Ministry of Health continue, both Island Health and the VGH pediatric on-call group have indicated that the closure is temporary, with hopes of reopening the clinic later this fall. The situation has prompted questions about the timing of the negotiations, with Kindy suggesting that discussions should have occurred prior to the clinic's closure. Island Health is committed to finding a sustainable solution that prioritizes the health and safety of children in the community.
Live Map
Explore live conditions on the State of the Island Map: View current road conditions and traffic incidents.
Sources
- CHEK: https://cheknews.ca/victoria-pediatric-clinic-temporarily-closes-island-health-eyes-er-bypass-for-kids-1274113/
Updates Timeline
08/21/2025, 11:49 PM - Admin edit
Last updated: Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 11:49 PM
This story was compiled by our automated newsroom from official sources and local reporting. Editors review for accuracy.