Surrey Memorial Hospital’s emergency room is known as one of the busiest in the country, facing additional strain due to recent closures in Delta. Seeking to alleviate the healthcare pressure in Surrey, the City is launching an innovative initiative to accommodate family doctors in city-owned facilities.
Mayor Brenda Locke highlighted the urgent need for more family doctors in Surrey, emphasizing the significant gap compared to Vancouver. The plan aims to support practitioners by offering fully equipped clinics in city buildings, covering most expenses to facilitate an easier transition into practice.
With the imminent opening of Simon Fraser University’s medical campus, Mayor Locke stressed the importance of retaining new doctors in Surrey to meet the community’s healthcare needs promptly. The initiative’s goal is to establish two clinics by next summer, setting a precedent for other municipalities to address similar healthcare challenges.
Dr. Charlene Lui, president of Doctors of BC, praised the initiative for easing administrative burdens on physicians, particularly family doctors, allowing them to focus more on patient care. However, concerns have been raised about the potential financial implications of the city shouldering these costs, with critics cautioning against offloading provincial responsibilities.
Despite criticisms, Mayor Locke remains committed to the initiative’s success, indicating that funding details will be clarified in the 2026 budget. The proposed model has garnered attention as a potential solution to the physician shortage issue, with hopes for improved healthcare access in Surrey and beyond.