A new primary-care centre is being proposed for Government Street in Duncan.
Island Health has a development permit application before the City of Duncan that would see a primary-care centre established at 930, 940 and 950 Government St., adjacent to the Fishbowl Cafe and Canco grocery store.
The proposal was considered by the city’s advisory design panel at a meeting on Jan. 25, and will proceed to council at a future meeting with recommendations from the panel.
Island Health issued a request for proposals in 2023 seeking space in Duncan for primary-care services.
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“Once the space is ready, we plan to establish an urgent and primary-care centre,” Island Health said in a statement.
“More details will be shared later this year.”
A report from Checkwitch Poiron Architects Inc. that was presented at the advisory design panel’s meeting said the new facility would include exam rooms, x-ray services, mental-health counselling space, general offices and a cultural gathering space, “all contributing to the community’s health-care services”.
“This use aligns with the vision of the Cairnsmore neighbourhood plan of having a healthy community with access to medical services within the community,” the report said.
The proposed medical facility on the three lots on Government Street is a two-story structure with 1,045 square metres of floor space, and to accommodate visitors and staff, 36 parking spots are being proposed.
The B.C. government’s strategy to get medical care to people without a family doctor, as the doctors shortage in the province deepens, has begun to focus on establishing more urgent and primary-care centres in recent years.