Do you need urgent care when your family practice clinic is closed?
For emergencies, call 9-1-1 or visit the hospital ER.
Patients of participating family physicians and nurse practitioners can now access urgent care when their family practice is closed by calling their clinic to connect with the After Hours Care service, which is currently available in these pilot communities:
- Greater Victoria
- Langley
- Thompson Region
- South Okanagan Similkameen
More than 75% of family practices in these communities have signed up to participate in the service. To access the After Hours Care service, simply call your family practice clinic from 5:00 p.m. -- 9:00 a.m. on weekdays or 24 hours on weekends/holidays. If you call your clinic and your family physician or nurse practitioner is not participating in the After Hours Care service, then you'll hear alternative instructions on how to receive care coverage after hours.
After Hours Care is for non-life threatening health concerns like:
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Fever above 38°C.
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Rash, sores, wounds, minor burns, or insect bites.
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Dizziness, or unusual headaches.
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Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea.
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Pain while peeing, or blood in your poop.
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Chest or sinus congestion, cough, sore throat.
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Ear pain or issues hearing.
Patients calling After Hours Care are assessed by a care team and, when appropriate, contacted by a family doctor. After Hours Care is available 5 p.m. – 9 a.m. on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and holidays.
After Hours Care does not provide prescription refills, sick notes, counselling or crisis care. Patients needing prescription refills should ask their pharmacist for an emergency refill until they can connect with their family doctor/nurse practitioner.
For urgent mental health help, please call:
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Urgent mental health (no area code needed): 310-6789.
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Suicide crisis line: 1-800-SUICIDE.
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KUU-US crisis line: 1-800-588-8717 for Indigenous peoples.
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Kids Help Phone: 1-800-784-2433 or text CONNECT to 686868.
If you're concerned about poisoning, please call:
If you are concerned about possible poisoning or exposure to a toxic substance, call BC Poison Control immediately at 1-800-567-8911 (24 hours).
About After Hours Care
The After Hours Care service is a partnership between Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health through their joint Family Practice Services Committee (FPSC). It is delivered using the operational infrastructure of HealthLinkBC that currently provides 8-1-1, the COVID Treatment Line, and other services. After Hours Care is a 6-month pilot in 4 regions of the province that provides care to attached patients when their family practice clinic is closed evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.