Now is the time to find a family doctor in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Now is the time to find a family doctor in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Published 6:00 am Sunday, December 28, 2025

A record-breaking year of physician recruitment is expanding access to long-term primary care

For many people in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, accessing health care has meant relying on walk-in clinics or urgent care for years. While those services play an important role, they can’t replace the long-term relationship and continuity that comes from having a dedicated family doctor or nurse practitioner.

That’s exactly the gap the Ridge Meadows Division of Family Practice is working to close.

One of the Division’s goals is simple but powerful: helping people in the community who don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner find one. Success is measured where it matters most – when residents who need ongoing primary care are successfully attached to a provider and supported over time.

“Without that ongoing connection, people miss out on preventive care, chronic disease management, and the trust that builds when a provider truly knows your health history,” Board Chair member Melodie Prem-Smith explains. “There is an abundance of evidence that shows having a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner improves overall health outcomes for the individual.”

Following efforts by the Ridge Meadows Division of Family Practice in recruitment efforts, there’s a rare and important opportunity. After several years where demand far exceeded availability, Ridge Meadows has seen an influx of doctors and nurse practitioners who are actively accepting new patients. That window may not stay open for long.

“This is the moment,” Melodie says. “Six months from now could look very different. There are doctors in the community right now who are able to take on new patients although six months from now could look very different.

The most important step residents can take is registering on the Health Connect Registry (HCR). By signing up, individuals, families or those caring for others can be matched with a local family doctor or nurse practitioner as spaces become available. 

To register, visit divisionsbc.ca/ridge-meadows/find-a-doctor

For those who need help with registration or have questions, support is available through HealthLink BC by calling 8-1-1.

The message for residents is clear: if you’ve been waiting to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner, don’t wait any longer. The opportunity is here – and taking action now could make a lasting difference in your health for years to come.

Behind the scenes, the Ridge Meadows Division of Family Practice has a dedicated Attachment Coordinator whose sole focus is helping people navigate the process and get connected to care. This work is part of a broader Primary Care Network that includes the Division, Fraser Health, Katzie and other community partners, all aligned with the Ministry of Health’s goal to improve access to primary care across the province.

Explore care options available in your community over the holidays, visit divisionsbc.ca/ridge-meadows/find-a-doctor