Aug 28 - Staffing wins and woes at Vic Gen ER

Good morning !

Today we’re looking at how different staffing situations have affected two clinics within Victoria General’s urgent care department: one has an abundance of specialized health care workers, and one is struggling to keep up with demand.

We also have an update on a new Colwood bridge that’s set to keep Galloping Goose users off the highway.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☁️ 21 / 14

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 23 / 15

Day after: 🌩️ 18 / 13

7-day forecast

NEWS

Victoria General Hospital closed 2 urgent care units in the last week—but for very different reasons

Last week, Victoria General Hospital (VGH) announced it would be closing its pediatric urgent care unit due to staffing issues and burnout among doctors. This week, Island Health announced it would be closing the perinatal emergency clinic at VGH—this time, however, it’s thanks to improved maternal care staffing.

The Victoria Perinatal Services emergency clinic opened in 2023 to address the lack of maternal-care doctors in Greater Victoria. Now, it’s set to wind down services before shutting in February.

Island Health told the Times Colonist that it has hired seven new family doctors who specialize in maternity and obstetrics, and 21 midwives to work at VGH.

While hiring has improved care for pregnant patients at the hospital, it hasn’t solved all of its staffing issues. The pediatric urgent care unit—which opened in 2019 to immediately match children with specialists when they visit the ER—is set to temporarily close, starting Monday, and is no longer taking referrals. The pediatricians operating the clinic say they're overwhelmed with the number and complexity of cases. 

Island Health says it’s working with the Ministry of Health to improve compensation and hours for the pediatric group, in the hopes this will improve employee retention at the clinic.

The clinic was created to reduce the number of patients in the ER; now, pediatric patients must go through regular urgent care.

Hospital staffing shortages have been a problem for the Island and province for years

In 2023, staffing shortages led to overnight closures at multiple Island emergency care units, including the ER at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. Some emergency units on the North Island were shuttered for days at a time. 

Recent staffing problems have been tied to Island Health's new fatigue policy, which stipulates that staff must not work more than 16 hours in a 24-hour period.

Islanders seeking care in Vancouver have also faced serious staffing hurdles—in February, a Courtenay resident had his double lung transplant cancelled because of low staffing at Vancouver General Hospital. 

Island Health and the province have focused on improving recruiting this year. The health authority told Capital Daily that it hired 1,800 net new employees last year, including 800+ nurses.

The province has funded several recruitment campaigns in the US, including advertising on TV, radio, and social media, and handing out free coffee to health-care workers in Seattle. 

The tactic appears to be working—last month, BC announced it received 780 job applications between March and May. The province says thousands of US doctors and nurse practitioners have expressed interest in relocating to BC.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Island Highway closure near Wale Road. See story below.

Beach advisory dropped for Langford Lake (Ed Nixon Terrace). [Island Health]

Langford fraud suspect. [West Shore RCMP]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

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NEWS

New gateway to the Goose is being installed over Island Highway

Some new steel is casting a shadow over the Island Highway in Colwood, and that’s sunny news for cyclists and pedestrians who’ll soon be able to cross above the busy highway traffic to continue onto the Galloping Goose.

Large steel girders are being installed overnight this week, with approach ramps slated to go in next month. 

Construction crews were at it again last night, positioning spans atop the wall and column structures.  

Tonight, the bridge decking is scheduled to be put in place, which again will mean the closure of Island Highway in that area—from 9pm this evening until 6am tomorrow—for the work being performed directly above the road. 

That work is expected to continue tomorrow, forcing a similar overnight closure.

Colwood is betting on the value of the Goose

According to the pedestrian and cycling Eco-Counter on the Galloping Goose at Wale Road, on average 6K+ cyclists and pedestrians travel this corridor each week, and more than 208K have used it so far this year. 

Colwood is betting its $2.7M investment—the feds paid the other $3.6M—will see those numbers increase once the flyover is in place.

“This new pedestrian and cycling overpass supports our community's goals related to health and well-being, easing traffic congestion, attracting customers to nearby businesses, improving air quality, and reducing our climate impact,” Colwood spokesperson Sandra Russell tells Capital Daily.

For years, cyclists and people on foot using the Goose have had to detour along Wale Road and Island Highway, where they had to wait to cross a busy intersection.

Adding to the confusion, Russell tells Capital Daily, is a small section of trail that cuts across from Wale Road to the Highway, but ends there dangerously, with no safe crossing in sight. 

“This overpass will create a seamless connection from the recently improved crossing at Wale Road to continue along the trail and over the bridge towards Royal Roads University and beyond,” Colwood spokesperson Sandra Russell says.

The city said the project is on track for completion by year’s end.

“Lighting, fencing, railings, and final landscaping are to be complete well before the March 2026 [federal] grant deadline,” Russell said.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🐸 Pacific chorus frogs and their different colours seen in Nanaimo. [Facebook photos]

🛝 Remembering summertime fun at the now-shuttered All Fun Waterslide Park in the Westshore, circa 1980s. [Facebook photos]

🗞️ In Other News

Police school liaisons return to SD61 schools this term
The program hasn’t run in Victoria since 2018, when VicPD’s budget could no longer accommodate it. The program continued in Saanich—with officers from Saanich PD—until May 2023, when the former school board pulled the plug based on recommendations from the BC Human Rights Commissioner and survey results that showed some students were uncomfortable with cops in schools. Meanwhile, police claim gangs are recruiting in local schools. Ending the program led to backlash against the school board, and eventually, all members were fired and replaced by a single trustee who worked with Saanich and VicPD to restart the program. [Times Colonist]

New elementary school in Langford ready to welcome students
SĆIȺNEW̱ SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ Elementary—named by the Scia’new First Nation—has been in development for five years. The school can accommodate 480 students from kindergarten to Grade 5 and will help meet the needs of the fast-growing city. This term will be the first set of classes in the school. The stretch of Latoria—where the school is located—will soon have new sidewalks and bike lanes. [CHEK]

Lane Trotter gets second 5-year term as Camosun College president
Camosun’s board of directors recommended his re-appointment on June 9, following a review that included talks with internal and external sources. Trotter became president in 2022 and has guided the college through “shifting enrolment patterns, fiscal pressures, and increasing demands for workforce training,” the college said in a statement. He was also credited with helping to secure $154.7M in government support for the college’s first on-campus student housing. The former Langara College president and CEO will complete his first term at the end of next year and begin his second on Jan. 1, 2027. [Camosun College]

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🗓️ Things to do

🎤 Mike Rita: BIG in Little Portugal: Catch award-winning Toronto comedian Mike Rita as he explores Portuguese heritage and family dynamics at Hecklers Bar & Grill today. 8pm. [Info]

🍃 Picnic in the Gardens: Bring your family and friends for an evening of live music by the Mittwoch String Trio while enjoying beautiful garden settings at the Gardens at HCP today. 5-8pm. [Info]

👗 ECOLOGYST x Lilith Cain Shop & Sip: Get personalized styling advice while shopping alongside local drag queen Lilith Cain at 552 Johnson St. today. 12-3pm. [Info]

🎵 Live Music at The Fort Commons: Enjoy talented local performers at Fort Commons (entrance beside Starbucks on Blanchard) today. 12pm. [Info]

🎬 Ran: This 40th anniversary restoration of Akira Kurosawa's King Lear masterpiece at Cinecenta today. 4pm & 7pm. [Info]

🍹 Patio Social at Ryes & Shine Distillery: Meet new faces while enjoying sunshine, craft cocktails, and small plates at Ryes & Shine Distillery tomorrow. 4:30pm. [Info]

💪 TFA Fitness: Drop in for free fitness classes with The Fitness Academy at Ship Point today. 12-1pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: Colwood car wash changes working hours after noise complaints; Most rents going up 2.3% in 2026; child dies in Shawnigan Lake-area crash. [Aug. 27]

Man guilty of splashing eroding liquid on women’s legs to disintegrate their pantyhose may avoid a jail sentence. [Times Colonist]

Parents of teen killed while cliff jumping warn about safety concerns. [CHEK]

A heat warning has been issued for East and Inland Vancouver Island. [Environment Canada] 

The Saanich Fair is this weekend. [Details]

Paddle for Health 2025: Sept. 6. [Register here]

Esquimalt’s memorial banner program is open. [Until Sept. 12]

That’s it!

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