Dear Patients,

We’re reaching out to share important context about the challenges currently facing our clinic—and primary care more broadly. Like many family physicians in the region, we are doing our best to care for a large number of patients within our practices.

We know many of you have had difficulty accessing timely appointments, and we want to be transparent about why this is happening—and how we can work together to continue delivering safe, effective care.

Each of us carries a large panel of ongoing patients, and the demands of providing comprehensive care continue to grow. 

Additionally, several of our newer physicians are required—under provincial policy—to meet specific attachment targets, which means they must see a certain number of new patients each day. While this helps address the broader access-to-care crisis, it reduces the number of follow-up appointments we’re able to offer to existing patients.

Please note that a family practice is not the same as an urgent care clinic, and same-day appointments are rarely available. The nature of family practice requires us to manage long-term, comprehensive care for thousands of patients, which limits our capacity for walk-in or same-day care. It is common in B.C. for patients to wait several months for a routine appointment with their family physician. This reflects the current state of our healthcare system. If you would like to advocate for improved access to care and better working conditions for healthcare providers, we encourage you to contact your local MLA or MP.

Follow up of investigations ordered by your family physician should be done by your family physician to ensure best continuity of your care. Though you may have to wait for a follow up, be reassured that we have reviewed and triaged your results and would be sure to follow up urgently if it was warranted. Booking with urgent care for review of your results is not appropriate unless advised by your provider. 

Any appointments listed on our online booking system are the only ones currently available. Calling the clinic will not provide earlier or additional times. We kindly ask that you avoid calling to check for alternate availability, as our staff can only access what’s already posted online.

We understand how frustrating this can be, and we’re doing everything we can within the current system. Your continued support makes a real difference. Here’s how you can help:

• Be understanding – the demands on primary care have never been higher.

• Plan ahead – especially for prescription renewals and routine follow-ups.

• Be kind to our resident and locum physicians—they are essential to our team and to the future of healthcare.

• Treat our staff with respect – they work incredibly hard to support thousands of patients and help us prevent burnout. 

• Arrive on time – while we aim to stay on schedule, occasional delays from emergencies may occur.

If you feel our clinic is no longer the right fit for your needs, please let us know. We’re happy to help transfer your medical records if you choose to self-discharge.

We truly appreciate your patience, understanding, and respect—for your physicians, our residents, and our dedicated staff. With mutual support, we can continue to provide the best care possible in these challenging times.

-COLWOOD FAMILY PRACTICE