Updated November 18, 2024
Do you need urgent care when your family practice clinic is closed?
For emergencies, call 9-1-1 or visit the hospital emergency department.
Patients of participating family physicians and nurse practitioners can now access urgent medical care when their family practice is closed by calling their clinic to connect with the After Hours Care program, currently available in these communities:
- Greater Victoria
- Langley
- Thompson Region
- Shuswap North Okanagan
- South Okanagan Similkameen
To access the After Hours Care service, call your family practice clinic between 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m. on weekdays or 24 hours on weekends/holidays.
If you call your clinic and your family physician or nurse practitioner is not participating in the After Hours Care program, then you'll hear your clinic’s instructions on how to receive care after hours.
After Hours Care is for non-life threatening health concerns like:
- Fever above 38°C.
- Rash, sores, wounds, minor burns, or insect bites.
- Dizziness, or unusual headaches.
- Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea.
- Pain while peeing, or blood in your poop.
- Chest or sinus congestion, cough, sore throat.
- Ear pain or issues hearing.
Patients calling After Hours Care are assessed by a care team and, when appropriate, contacted by a family doctor. After Hours Care is available 5:00 p.m.—9:00 a.m. on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and holidays.
After Hours Care does not provide routine prescription refills, sick notes, counselling or crisis care. Patients needing prescription refills should ask their pharmacist for an emergency refill until they can connect with their family doctor or nurse practitioner.
For urgent mental health help, please call:
- Urgent mental health (no area code needed): 310-6789.
- Suicide crisis line: 1-800-SUICIDE.
- KUU-US crisis line: 1-800-588-8717 for Indigenous people.
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-784-2433 or text CONNECT to 686868.
If you're concerned about poisoning, please call:
If you are concerned about possible poisoning or exposure to a toxic substance, call BC Poison Control immediately at 1-800-567-8911 (24 hours).
About After Hours Care
The After Hours Care is a program developed by Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health (through the Family Practice Services Committee) with HealthLink BC. It is delivered using the operational infrastructure, resources and staff of HealthLinkBC that currently provides 8-1-1, the Provincial COVID-19 Treatment Program, and other services. After Hours Care is currently available in six regions of the province and provides care to attached patients when their family practice clinic is closed evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.