Across BC, divisions of family practice and health authority, Indigenous and community partners are working to establish primary care networks (PCNs). In response to community consultation taking place over 2021, the Port Alberni Primary Care Network identified the top 6 primary care needs identified in Port Alberni:
- Lack of access to primary caregivers
- Lack of access to culturally safe care
- Need for low-barrier, city-centre health services
- Need for a low-barrier mobile healthcare unit for remote areas
- Lack of access to mental health services
- Lack of access to substance use services
To address all of these shortfalls in primary care, the Port Alberni PCN was approved for and started to deliver the following services in spring 2023:
Urban Indigenous Community Health Centre in the downtown core of Port Alberni
Placing allied health workers in family practice clinics to increase capacity and care
Low-barrier MHSU clinical services located in the upcoming community health centre
Mobile unit delivering primary care to urban, rural & remote, & street-entrenched patients
Métis Health Advocate to support the local and under-served Métis community
For more information, or to get in touch with the Port Alberni Primary Care Network team, please contact:
Catherine Gislason, Primary Care Network Project Lead 250-720-5491
Amanda Salvage, Primary Care Network Coordinator 250-937-9402
Tina Biello, Primary Care Project Management 250-668-2261