Know where to go for care
Here’s how to decide where to seek care based on your needs. Remember, this guide provides a general overview, and health-care services can vary depending on where you live:
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Family doctor or nurse practitioner
Call your family doctor or nurse practitioner first to book an appointment. If an appointment is not available, you can use HealthLink BC to find a walk-in clinic in your area. If you don’t have a family practitioner, register for one at the Health Connect Registry.
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General health questions
Call 8-1-1 to speak with a nurse, registered dietitian, pharmacist or exercise professional anytime.
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Urgent and primary care centre (UPCC)
Visit a UPCC for urgent, non-emergency care that needs attention within 12 to 24 hours. People with the most urgent medical concerns are seen first. Find a UPCC near you.
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Pharmacist
Talk to a pharmacist for prescription refills, minor ailments like pink eye, hemorrhoids or a urinary tract infection. Learn more at SeeYourPharmacist.ca
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Mental health and substance use support
Find nearby mental health and substance use support and services at vch.ca/Mental Health.
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-784-2433
BC Crisis Line: 310-6789
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Indigenous Crisis and Support Line - KUU-US Crisis Support Line: 1-800-588-8717
Harm reduction: Toward the Heart
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Emergency care
Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department for critical and life-threatening conditions, including broken bones, severe breathing problems and severe bleeding. Note: BC Children’s Hospital helps kids up to 16 for pediatric emergencies.
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Vaccinations
Book your flu or COVID-19 shots at GetVaccinated.gov.bc.ca or by calling 1-833-838-2323. For drop-in options, check with pharmacies, walk-in clinics or your family practitioner.
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Indigenous services and resources
Find high-quality, culturally safe health-care services to assist Indigenous Peoples and their families. Learn more.
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Home and community care
Health-care support and services for people with short-term, long-term, or end-of-life health care needs to promote wellness and to help you remain independent at home for as long as possible. Learn more.
Learn more about where to find the right care in the following video.
Access other VCH services
Substance use - Access Central
Call Access Central for a same-day clinical assessment and personalized substance use care plan if you live or stay in the VCH area. Hours of operation are between 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. seven days a week.
Vaccinations
Book your flu or COVID-19 shots at GetVaccinated.gov.bc.ca or 1-833-838-2323. For drop-in options, check with pharmacies, walk-in clinics or your family practitioner. For other vaccines, VCH clinics are here to help you and your family get immunized against common vaccine-preventable diseases.
Laboratory services
Laboratory services provide a full range of services such as blood collection, colon cancer screening tests and more to patients within Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and other health-care facilities across the province.
Sexual health clinics
Sexual health clinics offer free, confidential health care to people of all ages. Services include testing, treatment, immunization and counselling.
Public Health Units
Public Health Units in every community in VCH provide services that promote and protect the health of the population. Programs include hearing services, dietitian services, prenatal and early years and more.
Looking for other services?
Find information on other services we provide across the region. Information you'll find here includes information on how to access, what to expect, how to get there, referral information (if relevant) and client resources.
Care in your community
We are proud to care for residents living in the communities of Richmond, Vancouver, North Shore, Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola located within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai’xais, Lil’wat, Musqueam, N’Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla’amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa’xtsa. Learn more about who we serve.
Health-care services are tailored to meet the needs of each community, which means the type and availability of care may differ from one town to another. For this reason, it is important to seek the most current and specific information for your area.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information on services in your area, please select your region below.
Vancouver
Boundary Road to UBC, and from the north side of the Fraser River to Burrard Inlet.
Richmond
From the south side of the Fraser River to the north border of Surrey and Delta.
North Shore and Coastal areas
The North Shore, Sunshine Coast and the qathet region, Sea-to-Sky region and the Central Coast (Bella Bella and Bella Coola).
New to B.C. or the VCH region?
This resource is to help you understand the health care system in BC. It includes information on eligibility and enrolment for health care coverage.
