Amid a scarcity of family doctors in Surrey, the City is stepping up to address the issue head-on.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has revealed a bold initiative to combat the shortage of family physicians in the area. The city is set to launch a series of new medical clinics and is in the process of appointing a healthcare administrator to oversee their operations.
In a recent announcement, the City of Surrey disclosed its intention to invite proposals from potential partners to collaborate on this crucial project.
Mayor Locke expressed her concern over the increasing number of residents in Surrey who are unable to secure a family doctor, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. She highlighted the strain on healthcare services, citing an incident where patients were redirected to Surrey after a staffing crisis led to the temporary closure of Delta Hospital’s emergency room.
With only about 59 family physicians per 100,000 residents in Surrey, the city lags significantly behind Vancouver, which boasts 136 family physicians per 100,000 people.
The city aims to finalize a partnership agreement by the end of the year, with the first city-operated clinics potentially opening their doors as early as next spring. Additionally, Surrey plans to collaborate with Simon Fraser University’s new medical school to educate and retain new family doctors.
Mayor Locke stressed that the city is committed to covering operational expenses and offering competitive contracts to entice family physicians to practice in Surrey.