August 21,2025
RED FM News Desk
The urgent care clinic for children at Victoria General Hospital will close temporarily on Sept. 1, with no set reopening date, as the local health authority points to heavy workloads, physician burnout, and staff retention challenges.
Island Health said that consultations normally handled by the Urgent Pediatric Assessment Clinic will instead be managed by the hospital’s emergency department. The clinic stopped accepting new referrals on Aug. 15.
According to a statement from the hospital’s pediatricians, staff were given notice of the closure so they could be redirected to provide more urgent care. They expressed hope that the clinic will reopen soon, potentially offering expanded services.
This closure follows a series of service reductions in B.C. hospitals, including the shutdown of Kelowna General Hospital’s dedicated pediatric unit in May.
Island Health added that it has been working closely with the pediatric team to address workload and compensation concerns. “The pediatrics group is facing rising demand as patient volume and complexity have increased over the past several years, creating challenges related to workload, physician burnout, and staff retention,” the statement said.
Loading ...
