Skip to content

James Bay walk-in clinic services winding down in advance of doctor’s retirement

But current doctor shortage limits appointments to previously seen vulnerable, complex care patients
27964472_web1_220127-VNE-JamesBay-Clinic_1
The James Bay Medical Treatment Centre is limiting its appointment availability due to the unforeseen absence of one of its doctors, who is retiring at the end of February. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

The James Bay Medical Treatment Centre, which announced in December it would be reducing its capacity in advance of closing, is currently providing limited services due to the temporary loss of one of its doctors.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dr. Greenwood is unavailable for any appointments at this time,” reads a notice posted on the Menzies Street walk-in clinic’s door. The doctor’s absence has left the clinic serving only the complex care and vulnerable patients who have been to the location before.

An online post Dec. 30 on the clinic’s Google search page carried a similar message, saying the doctor would not be available “in the near future.” A Dec. 20 post on the same page announced that Greenwood will be retiring at the end of February, and that capacity would be reduced over the new few months “as we work toward closing the clinic.”

The notice on the door Jan. 27 states the clinic is compiling a list of complex care and vulnerable patients and aims to contact them directly before closing on Feb. 28. Patients whose needs are considered non-urgent or who haven’t visited the James Bay clinic before will have to find medical aid elsewhere.

With doctor shortages hitting clinics across Greater Victoria, residents’ options are increasingly limited.

In mid-January, two family doctors at Eagle Creek Medical Clinic in View Royal announced their decision to begin working out of the United States via private online-only clinics. Not only will their 3,000 patients be forced to find other arrangements as of April 15, the facility’s walk-in clinic will also close on that date. Other general practitioners are keeping their practices on site, but are unable to take on all of the patients, the clinic has stated.

The Colwood Medical Treatment Centre has also chosen April 15 as its closure date. It said despite efforts to hire new doctors, it has been unable to staff the clinic.

READ ALSO: Loss of two doctors at View Royal clinic will leave 3,000 without a GP

READ ALSO: West Shore walk-in clinic closing due to chronic physician shortage


Do you have a story tip? Email: jane.skrypnek@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.