Vancouver City Centre Urgent and Primary Care Centre
Open 7 days a week
Urgent and primary care centreOpen 7 days a week
Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) in Vancouver
Vancouver has 5 urgent and primary care centres run by Vancouver Coastal Health. They sit between a walk-in clinic and an emergency room: open seven days a week, staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and pharmacists, and designed for problems that need care within 12 to 24 hours.
REACH Urgent and Primary Care Centre
Open 7 days a week
Urgent and primary care centreOpen 7 days a week
Northeast Urgent and Primary Care Centre
Open 7 days a week
Urgent and primary care centreOpen 7 days a week
Vancouver Southeast Urgent and Primary Care Centre
Open 7 days a week
Urgent and primary care centreOpen 7 days a week
UBC Urgent and Primary Care Centre
Open 7 days a week
Urgent and primary care centreOpen 7 days a week
UPCC, walk-in clinic or emergency room?
| Walk-in clinic | UPCC | Emergency room | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Everyday problems that can wait a day or two | Problems needing care within 12–24 hours | Severe or life-threatening problems |
| Typical hours | Weekday daytime | 7 days, into the evening | 24 hours |
| Who you see | A family physician | Physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, pharmacist | Emergency physician and hospital team |
| On-site tests | Rarely | Some; referrals for labs and imaging | Full lab and imaging |
| Typical wait | 30 minutes to 3 hours | 1 to 3 hours | Triage-based; can exceed 6 hours for low-acuity cases |
What to expect at a Vancouver UPCC
You register at reception with your BC Services Card. A nurse triages you, which means the order of care depends on clinical urgency rather than arrival time. You may be seen by a nurse practitioner rather than a physician — in BC, nurse practitioners diagnose, order tests and prescribe. Many UPCCs have a pharmacist on the team who can review your medications on the spot.
UPCCs can also attach unattached patients to ongoing primary care, which is one of the main reasons they exist. If you have no family doctor, say so at registration.
Questions about UPCCs
Do I need a referral or an appointment for a UPCC?
No. Urgent and primary care centres accept walk-in patients and also hold same-day booked slots. You do not need a referral and you do not need a family doctor.
What does a UPCC treat?
Problems that need attention within 12 to 24 hours but are not life-threatening: sprains and possible fractures, cuts that may need stitches, infections, worsening asthma or diabetes, urinary tract infections, minor burns, skin conditions, new pain that needs assessment, and prescription issues that cannot wait.
Is a UPCC free?
With valid MSP coverage, yes. UPCCs are part of the public system. If you do not have MSP, go anyway — you will not be turned away for urgent care, though you may be billed. Community health clinics such as REACH are the best route for people without coverage.
How many UPCCs are there in Vancouver?
There are 5 in the City of Vancouver: City Centre in Yaletown, REACH on Commercial Drive, Northeast on East Hastings, Southeast on Victoria Drive and UBC on Agronomy Road. Neighbouring municipalities such as North Vancouver and Richmond have their own.