The Central Nanaimo Urgent and Primary Care Centre is about to open its doors. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Healthcare enhancement

New urgent and primary care centre about to open in Nanaimo

Apr 24, 2025 | 4:47 PM

NANAIMO — Island Health is a week away from opening a clinic to provide timely primary care to thousands of patients.

Located on Barons Rd. at Norwell Dr., an Island Health-operated clinic features a multi-disciplinary team which will see patients triaged through a phone-in booking system.

Shelley Birchard, Central Nanaimo Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) manager, said having patients phone in advance provides a more efficient service flow.

“It could be a lineup of 50 people, but there’s no way of telling of the need or urgency within those 50 people that have arrived, and if it’s first come, first serve, the 50th person might be the one that’s in the most need.”

The clinic will be open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting on Thursday, May 1, with appointments set up in advance by calling 1-833-688-8722.

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The Central Nanaimo UPCC is not a publicly accessible facility. Patients need to pre-book in advance over the phone to be referred to in-clinic services. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The smaller Port Place Shopping Centre UPCC service, open since 2019, operates on a walk-in basis.

Birchard said UPCC staff will assess issues via phone, then assign the best course of action for the patient, whether that be in-clinic or other resources.

“When we have an opportunity to really understand what that person’s needs are, we’re then better able to actualize those appointments happening in a more timely fashion to the right person — that will meet the needs the best for that patient.”

Island Health states physical ailments like sprains, cuts, high fevers and minor infections are examples of needs suitable for the UPCC.

The Central Nanaimo UPCC is expected to facilitate more than 85,000 annual patient visits when the clinic is at full volume, which Birchard estimates will materialize in about one year.

Island Health pledges the full build-out of the clinic will see about 36 full-time healthcare workers employed, including family doctors, nurses, social workers and mental health/substance use clinicians.

Services specific for Indigenous patients, including a separate entrance for those requiring discreet, culturally safe access to care are included, as are two examination rooms, according to Island Health.

Shelley Birchard touring local reporters around the new Central Nanaimo UPCC (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Dr. Taylor Swanson, Island Health’s Nanaimo Community director and a local family physician, said the incoming UPCC will help relieve stress on Nanaimo’s existing UPCC at Port Place (Medical Arts Centre) and Nanaimo hospital.

He said the NRGH emergency room is often backed up with long wait times that the new primary care centre can help address.

“They’re doing very important work seeing the most urgent and emergent cases in our community,” Swanson said regarding the NRGH emergency ward. “We’re hoping to take some of the less urgent cases that can be handled by a family doctor and bring them to this centre.”

A tour by local politicians and members of the media for the new UPCC took place on Thursday, April 24, as contractors completed final interior and exterior work.

The two-storey, fully renovated clinic will serve as a particularly important offering for those without a family doctor.

Nearly two years ago the building was shut down following a fire, displacing several tenants, with Island Health eventually purchase the entire address.

The total capital cost of the new clinic is $8.2 million, according to Island Health, while the Ministry of Health has committed $8.8 million in annual operating costs.

According to Island Health, the Port Place UPCC sees around 21,000 patients annually.

Located at 3260 Norwell Dr., the Central Nanaimo UPCC opens on Thursday, May 1. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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