Looking for a Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner?
The Central Island Division connects patients without a primary care practitioner to physicians or nurse practitioners that are accepting patients using the Health Connect Registry (HCR). Patients can also call 8-1-1 to self-register over the phone.
Registering using this online tool adds you and your family to a local waitlist for a provider. You may also register your family or a person in your care.
Please note: access to a physician or nurse practitioner in Central Island is limited by the number of providers accepting patients.
If you live in the Oceanside health region (Parksville, French Creek, Qualicum Beach, Nanoose Bay, Lighthouse Country, Errington, Lasqueti Island and Arrowsmith Coombs Country), or Port Alberni, and are looking for a family doctor or nurse practitioner, please visit the Health Connect Registry link above to register. You will be asked some basic questions about yourself and where you live.
If you do not currently have a family physician or nurse practitioner, you can find walk in services using Medi-Map.
Emergency or Immediate Care
If you’ve been in a major accident or have a life threatening situation, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency department of the closest hospital. Examples include trouble breathing, chest pain/pressure, severe pain, heavy bleeding, signs of stroke – face, droop, arm/leg weakness and difficulty speaking, etc.
Speak with your pharmacist who may be able to provide an emergency refill of your prescription, including medications for chronic conditions, or advice about over-the-counter medications for minor issues.
For non-life threatening illnesses or injuries that need immediate same-day care in the Oceanside area, please contact:
Oceanside Health Centre at 489 Alberni Highway in Parksville.
Open 7 days a week, 7:30am to 9:30pm.
Phone : 250-951-9550
Medical conditions appropriately treated at the Urgent Care center include:
- Immediate assessment and treatment for conditions that require same-day treatment
- Assessment and stabilization for transfer to hospital, if needed
- The Centre will be able to care for approximately 75% of patients who might typically visit an Emergency Department and not need to be admitted
- Oceanside Mental Health and Substance Use Walk-in Services for Adolescent and Adults is available M-F 10-00 am – 7:00 pm Oceanside Health Center (see first floor reception)
Services in Port Alberni
- Walk-in-Clinic - West Coast Urgent Care
109-3949 Maple Way, Port Alberni.
Call 778-421-1219 for current hours and more information.
- Port Alberni Child, Youth and Family Health Unit Phone: 250-731-1315
- Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nursing Services , if you identify as Indigenous/Nuu-Chah-Nulth Phone: 250-724-5757
- Port Alberni Child and Youth Mental Health Phone: 250-720-2650
- Youth and Adult Mental Health and Substance Use, Phone: 250-731-1311
- If it is an emergency, please go to the Emergency Room at West Coast General Hospital or call 9-1-1.
About Primary Care Networks and the Health Connect Registry
PCNs are community-based networks of health care professionals and clinics who plan and deliver day-to-day health care needs of a community. Within these networks, teams of providers work together. This way patients will receive better care, by the right person, at the right time, closer to home.
PCNs are part of the Province's Primary and Community Care Strategy to make sure you have faster and better access to the everyday health care services. It will take some time for PCNs to become fully operational. The Province plans to have PCNs established in 70 percent of B.C. communities over the next three years.
The Health Connect Registry is part of this strategy. The Health Connect Registry works with active PCNs to help patients find a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner, because we know that having a regular provider leads to better health for you and your family.
Update Your Information
Keeping information on the Health Connect Registry up to date is important. This will help us connect you to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. If you need to update information on the Health Connect Registry for yourself, your family or person in your care, please contact HealthLink BC by dialing 8-1-1, or for the deaf and hard of hearing, dialing 7-1-1.
A HealthLink BC health service navigator will ask you for the Client ID you received when you registered and your personal health number. If you are updating information on behalf of your family or a person in your care, you will require their Client ID and personal health number to make an update.
Information on the Health Connect Registry can only be updated by phone at this time.
Health Services and Support
While you are waiting to be connected with a family doctor or nurse practitioner, please consider the following for accessing health services and support:
- Call HealthLink BC
- Visit your local walk-in clinic
- HealthLink BC provides free health information and advice any time of the day or night. Call us toll-free at 8-1-1 in B.C., or for the deaf and hard of hearing, call 7-1-1. A health service navigator will help you find the information you are looking for or transfer you to a registered nurse, registered dietitian, licensed pharmacist or qualified exercise professional. Our navigators can also help you find a health service in your community such as a walk-in clinic or urgent primary care centre. Translation services are available in over 130 languages.
- You are welcome to visit a walk-in clinic. Walk-in clinic doctors can diagnose, manage illnesses, prescribe medication, order medical tests and make referrals to specialists. Please visit our HealthLinkBC Directory to find a clinic close to where you live.
Find health services and support in your community
Search our HealthLinkBC Directory to find health services in B.C. We list all publicly-funded health, mental health and addiction treatment programs. If you need help finding a health service, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 and speak with one of our health service navigators.