PATIENTS can register on Monday, August 10 to be attached to a new nurse practitioner primary care clinic that will open in Surrey on September 8.

The Province is launching Axis Primary Care Clinic, in collaboration with the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC, Fraser Health and the Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice, to provide team-based primary care services to residents.

“Nurse practitioner primary care clinics are developed and run by nurse practitioners and are an integral part of our government’s comprehensive strategy to transform B.C.’s health-care system,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The clinics are a patient-centred solution to improving access to the everyday health care, and we know that compared to other jurisdictions in Canada, B.C. has not made the best use of nurse practitioners. The Axis Primary Care Clinic will help connect more people with the care they need, when they need it, closer to home.”

Located at 5795 176th Street in Surrey, Axis Primary Care Clinic will offer team-based primary care services to Surrey residents. This includes attaching approximately 6,800 people without a primary care provider to a nurse practitioner in the next three years.

The clinic will also provide access to primary health-care services to patients with complex medical and social needs, mental health and addictions challenges and co-ordination of specialist care.

Hours of operation will be Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

When fully staffed, 10 full-time equivalent health-care staff will work at the primary care clinic, including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers and mental health clinicians.

“The Axis Primary Care Clinic would not be possible without the dedication of the Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC, Fraser Health, Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice and other partners,” Dix said. “We will continue our collaborative work to make sure that these clinics become an integral part of health care throughout the province.”

Once the clinic is fully operational, the B.C. government will provide annual operating funding of approximately $2 million, as well as one-time startup costs of $754,400.

This is the second nurse practitioner primary care clinic to be announced in the province under the primary care strategy. The first clinic opened in Nanaimo in June 2020.

Jinny Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama, said: “The new nurse practitioner primary care clinic in Surrey is an exciting step forward for the community. Thanks to this new approach, even more people will get access to team-based care and be attached to a primary care provider, which is much needed in the region. It will make a real difference in the lives of residents.”

Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton, added: “Surrey is one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C., and the new nurse practitioner primary care clinic will help take demand off Surrey Memorial Hospital’s emergency department and connect more people to a consistent primary care provider.”

Michael Sandler, Executive Director, Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC (NNPBC), noted: “Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC are pleased to have helped lead the process of conceptualizing and opening these NP Primary Care Clinics with strong community support. It has been with the diligence and advocacy of the NP Council of NNPBC and, in particular, our director of NP provincial initiatives Danielle Daigle and project manager Patricia Telford, whose detailed knowledge of the inner workings of NP practice within the larger health-care delivery context has been key to getting where we are today. We applaud this approach to team-based care that taps into the expertise of nurse practitioners as primary care providers as well as all health-care staff. This clinic is key to ensuring B.C. families can access timely health-care services when they need them, and we are thrilled about the opening of the first NP-Primary Care Clinic in Surrey.”

Dr. Victoria Lee, President and CEO, Fraser Health, said: “We are proud of working with the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC and the Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice to co-ordinate health services to support patients and their families. This clinic will help people further manage their existing health conditions, avoid unnecessary hospital visits and remain healthy and independent as long as possible.”

Dr. Elaine Jackson, Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice, added: “The Surrey-North Delta Division is supportive of this effort to improve access to quality health care and values the opportunity to partner with Fraser Health and Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC to launch a new nurse practitioner primary care clinic in Surrey. This clinic will serve patients who have difficulties accessing primary care, it will strengthen the existing network of primary care services in the community and will create an alternative employment opportunity for health-care teams wanting to provide care in Surrey.”