Victoria Pediatric Clinic to Close Temporarily Due to Staffing Issues

An urgent care clinic for children at Victoria General Hospital is set to close temporarily on September 1, 2025, due to significant staffing challenges. The local health authority, Island Health, has indicated that increased workloads, physician burnout, and difficulties in staff retention prompted this decision.

Island Health announced that consultations typically managed by the Urgent Pediatric Assessment Clinic will now be redirected to the emergency department. The clinic ceased accepting new referrals on August 15, 2025, in anticipation of this closure.

According to a statement from the pediatricians at the hospital, they felt compelled to provide advance notice of the closure to prioritize more immediate care needs. The statement expressed hope that the clinic will reopen in the near future, potentially with enhanced services.

This closure adds to a troubling trend in British Columbia’s healthcare services, following the shutdown of the dedicated pediatric unit at Kelowna General Hospital in May. Island Health stated that it has been in active discussions with the pediatrics group to address ongoing concerns related to workloads and compensation.

The health authority emphasized that the demand for pediatric services has surged in recent years, leading to increased complexity in cases. This has created substantial workload challenges, contributing to physician burnout and making it difficult to retain staff.

The decision to close this clinic reflects broader issues facing healthcare systems in the region, where the strain on resources and personnel continues to grow. As communities look for solutions, the focus remains on ensuring that children receive the necessary care during this transitional period.

Island Health is committed to working alongside pediatricians to find immediate solutions that will allow for the restoration of services as quickly and efficiently as possible.