10/11/2026
# No Family Doctor in Victoria? Here’s How to Get the Care You Need While You Wait
Thousands of people in Greater Victoria are waiting for a family doctor or nurse practitioner. If you’re one of them, it can be hard to know where to turn when you’re sick, need a prescription renewed, or have a health concern that shouldn’t wait.
**The good news: you do have options.** Here is a practical guide to accessing care while you wait to be connected with a regular primary care provider.
# # # 1. Start with 8-1-1 — HealthLink BC
📞 **Call 8-1-1, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.**
This is much more than a recorded health information line. A health service navigator can help you figure out where to seek care and connect you with available health professionals.
Depending on your needs, you can access:
- **Registered nurses:** Advice about symptoms, how urgently you need assessment, and what to do next.
- **Pharmacists:** Medication-related advice and connections to pharmacist services.
- **Registered dietitians:** Nutrition advice on weekdays.
- **Qualified exercise professionals:** Help with physical activity questions on weekdays.
- **Physicians:** Available by referral through the service during designated hours.
Translation services are available in more than 130 languages.
Start here if you are unsure whether you need a doctor, a pharmacist, an urgent care appointment, or another service.
More information: [https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/](https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/)
# # # 2. Need to see a clinician today or soon? Try a UPCC
Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) provide assessment and treatment for health concerns that need timely attention but are not life-threatening emergencies.
They can help with problems such as infections, minor injuries, new symptoms, and some less serious illnesses in children.
**Important: Victoria-area UPCCs generally do not accept walk-ins.** You need to call the Primary Care Access Line to request an appointment.
📞 **1-833-688-8722**
Call during clinic hours and ask for the UPCC most appropriate for your location and health concern. Appointments depend on clinical urgency and availability, so not everyone can be seen immediately.
Find local centres and current details:
[https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care](https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care)
If you have chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, or another potentially life-threatening emergency, call 911 instead.
# # # 3. Consider an online doctor or nurse practitioner
Virtual care can be convenient when you cannot get an in-person appointment. Depending on your concern, a clinician may be able to assess symptoms, prescribe medication when appropriate, order tests, or arrange follow-up.
Two services to investigate are:
**TELUS Health MyCare**
[https://www.telus.com/en/health/my-care/doctors](https://www.telus.com/en/health/my-care/doctors)
Offers virtual consultations with doctors and nurse practitioners. Medically necessary consultations are advertised as covered at no cost for eligible BC residents with provincial health coverage.
**Avee Health**
[https://www.avee.health/services/medical-care](https://www.avee.health/services/medical-care)
Offers online physician consultations for BC residents with valid provincial health coverage, advertised at no cost. Private-pay options are also available.
Virtual care is particularly useful for some straightforward problems, but it is not suitable for every condition. Some concerns require a physical examination, testing, or in-person follow-up. Neither service should be assumed to provide a permanent family doctor.
# # # 4. Your community pharmacist can do more than dispense medication
BC pharmacists can assess and treat many common minor ailments, including simple, acute urinary tract infections, pink eye, some skin conditions, pollen allergies, and other eligible problems. They can also prescribe contraception and help with some prescription renewals.
The service depends on the condition, your circumstances, and the pharmacist's assessment.
Ask your pharmacist whether your concern can be managed there rather than waiting for a medical appointment.
More information: [https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-services/pharmacies](https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-services/pharmacies)
# # # 5. Stay on the Health Connect Registry — and keep your information current
If you need a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner, register with the **Health Connect Registry**.
🔗 [https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry](https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry)
A few important points:
- Make sure your phone number, email, address, and health information are current.
- Update your registration if your health needs change.
- Watch for emails or calls about a possible match.
- If you have questions or need help updating your registration, call 8-1-1.
People with more urgent health needs may be prioritized, but waiting times vary and cannot be guaranteed.
# # # 6. Keep a simple record of your healthcare
When you need to use different services while waiting for a family doctor, continuity can be difficult. A little preparation helps.
Keep an up-to-date list of:
- Your medications, doses, and allergies.
- Your major medical conditions and previous surgeries.
- Recent test results or investigations, if available.
- Appointments, diagnoses, treatments, and recommendations from previous visits.
Bring this information to appointments and tell each clinician about relevant recent assessments. If you are using virtual care, ask how you can obtain a copy of your visit summary.
This can help reduce confusion and make each appointment more productive.
# # # A final thought
Being without a family doctor is stressful, especially when you or someone you love becomes ill. These services are not a perfect substitute for a regular family physician who knows your history and can coordinate your ongoing care. But they can provide important help while you wait.
**Save this post, share it with someone who is waiting for a family doctor, and remember: you are not without options.**
*Health services, eligibility, appointment availability, and hours can change. Check the official links or call before traveling.*
