Residents of Nanaimo and Surrey now have access to primary care clinics led by nurse practitioners. The Province launched Nanaimo’s Nexus Primary Care Clinic and Surrey’s Axis Primary Care Clinic, in collaboration with the nurses and nurse practitioners along with local health authorities and other partners, to provide team-based primary care services to residents.

Nurse practitioners can work on their own, or with physicians and other health professionals, to provide care across a person’s life­span. This includes diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting tests, prescribing medications, and performing medical procedures.

The Nanaimo clinic started opening gradually in June 2020, with two full-time nurse practitioners. By mid-September the clinic will have four more nurse practitioners, two registered nurses, a social worker, and mental health clinicians to provide team-based care. Patients can register to be attached to the Surrey clinic as of 10 August; it opens on 8 September. When fully staffed, 10 full-time equivalent health care staff will work at the Surrey clinic, including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, and mental health clinicians.