Health Q&A

Maternity & Family Health

Chronic Conditions and Specialized Care

Disability and Support Services

Mental Health and Substance Use

Emergency and Urgent Care

Preventative Care and Health Resources

Health Records and Information Access

  • In October 2023, Island Health introduced an In-House Registered Midwife program to support individuals without access to a primary care provider. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/57f2mj24

    1. The Mayne Island Health Clinic is not accepting new patients at this time.

    2. If you have recently moved to Mayne Island and already have a family physician or medical clinic where you are registered, right now it’s best to stay registered at that location

    3. You can register to be on the waiting list for the Mayne Island Clinic through the Provincial Attachment System (PAS). For more information go to https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/public-health-alertsregistry or call 811

    • For further information on the prevention, management and diagnosis of diabetes, call 8-1-1 to speak to a registered dietitian, registered nurse or pharmacist. Our dietitians are available Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our nurses are available anytime, every day of the year. Our pharmacists are available every night from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. You can also Email a HealthLinkBC Dietitian.

    • You can also contact an Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC) in the Victoria area for a virtual appointment. If follow up or an in person consultation is required, you can make and appointment during your virtual visit. https://tinyurl.com/mt8e2u8b

  • You can contact an Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC) in the Victoria area https://tinyurl.com/mt8e2u8b

    You can call first for a virtual appointment and if necessary book an in-person appointment at the UPCC site you called

  • Yes, if you have a signed requisition from a doctor call the health centre at 250-539-2312 to book an appointment.

    • Persons with Disabilities (PWD) status provides monetary assistance provided by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction for people who need help completing daily living activities. Whether you qualify or not is based on your income, assets, residency, family status (single/children etc.) https://tinyurl.com/29355rw8

    • To help navigate this process, you can contact the Mayne Island Home Care Nurse at 250-539-3645 for assistance.

  • Contact the Mayne Island Assisted Living Society (MIALS). Email info@mials.org or call the Home and Community Nurse (250) 213-6191.

    1. For general information on mental health services available in our area please contact Salt Spring Island Mental Health Counselling Services here

    2. Call or Text the Mental Health Crisis number 988

    3. Contact our Mayne Island Mental Health Counsellor for an appointment by calling 1-250-588-6813

    1. Contact your health care provider

    2. Contact the BC Government’s Help Starts Here program at https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/ for information on Support Groups, Counselling and other services

  • Always call 911. Mayne Island is fortunate to have a qualified team of first responders. When you initiate a 911 call, the Ambulance crew is dispatched and the on-call physician is notified. The Physician on call provides emergency support for Mayne, Pender and Galiano Islands. Depending on availability, BC Ambulance services evacuates patients to the nearest hospital in Victoria via ferry, water taxi or helicopter.

    • 1. The Canadian Government has a comprehensive directory on Harm Reduction and Overdose prevention services. It’s a great resource and can be viewed here

    • Naloxone Saves Lives! Naloxone kits are available at the Health Centre and the Ambulance station. Training sessions on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an overdose are available from the community paramedic at the Ambulance Station. Always have a Naloxone Kit with you.

  • For information on prevention, risks, symptoms and treatment refer to the following Canadian Government site https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/flu-influenza.html

    • GetCheckedOnline is an online service that offers testing for sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections. This service is offered through the BC Centre for Disease Control

    • Self screening for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is now available in BC. Kits are available at the Health Centre or can be ordered directly from the BC Centre for Disease Control and will be mailed to your home. See here

    • Who is eligible for self collection cervical screening? All women and people with a cervix aged 25– 74

  • The answer to this question and many other related questions are available from the BC Cancer Agency

  • The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that men talk to their doctor about the potential benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening at about age 50. Men with higher risk may wish to discuss the need for screening at a younger age.

    Some things that put men at a higher risk include:

    Being of African descent, having a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, knowing that a gene change, such as BRCA, runs in his family.

    For more information: https://tinyurl.com/ysamja6k

Public Heath and Safety

  • You can sign up to the Air Quality Subscription Services to receive air quality advisories for your area. Alerts are sent to your mobile phone. You can register here

  • To stay informed of any public health alerts in BC as well as Travel Health alerts, information is available through Health Link BC here

    • The next Mayne Island community COVID-19 vaccination clinic is scheduled for November 6th an 7th 2024 at the Agricultural Hall beginning at 12:30pm

    • Generally, these community vaccination clinics are held in the Spring and Fall of each year. Information is published well in advance to give you lots of time to register

    • If you wish to check on eligibility and for any additional information go to the COVID-19 Immunization Website

  • Community Flu vaccination clinics are scheduled in November each year.

How can we help to get another doctor on Mayne Island?

To help recruit another doctor on Mayne Island, we encourage community involvement and awareness. Doctors on Mayne Island are contracted by Island Health which actively seeks qualified candidates to join our team.

If you know of anyone interested in practicing in a beautiful, supportive community, please spread the word! You can also share informtation about our current needs on social media and local platforms.

MIHCA is committed to addressing the healthcare demands of our community, and we appreciate your support in helping us find the right fit for our island. Together, we can work towards ensuring everyone has access to the healthcare they need.