Image Credit: Interior Health File Photo

By Victor Kaisar

New UPCC

New Urgent and Primary Care Centre opens in Williams Lake

Feb 28, 2025 | 3:05 PM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — The B.C. government says a new Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) has opened in Williams Lake, giving people in the area increased access to primary health care.

In a news release Friday (Feb. 28), the province says the facility at 47 Cameron St. opened its doors on Tuesday, Feb. 25. It says when fully operational, people will be able to get in-person and virtual urgent and episodic primary care seven days a week between 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., including statutory holidays.

“Our government is committed to making sure everyone in our province has access to quality health care that’s close to home,” Health Minister Josie Osborne said in the news release.

“This new UPCC means people living in Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, and East and West Cariboo regions will have increased access to same-day primary health care so they can receive the care they need, while also easing pressure on emergency rooms and hospitals.”

The province says the Williams Lake UPCC will offer same-day care for people who need access to health care within 12 to 24 hours, but do not require a visit to the emergency department. It will also be available to people who do not have a primary-care provider, as well as to people who aren’t able to schedule an appointment with their primary-care provider “within a convenient timeframe.”

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“This clinic is critical to easing the workload of the emergency room at the Cariboo Memorial Hospital, especially for those without a family doctor,” Al Richmond, the board chair of the Cariboo Chilcotin Hospital District, said.

“Having separate spaces for emergency care and urgent care will produce the best outcomes for healthcare staff and patients accessing these services.”

The province says as hiring progresses, patients at the new UPCC will be cared for by “more than 18 full-time-equivalent healthcare providers, including family doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, Indigenous patient navigators and administrative staff.”

The new Williams Lake UPCC had a total capital cost of more than $4 million, with $2.67 million coming from the Ministry of Health. The Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District funded the remaining $1.37 million.