Surrey, B.C.– The City of Surrey is taking decisive action to accelerate access to primary healthcare in Surrey. This is being done by launching a competitive Request for Proposals (RCF) to select an experienced shared healthcare partner to open and operate a network of community-based medical clinics. The initiative is moving forward with the City hiring a dedicated Health Care Administrator whose job it will be to ensure service delivery, performance and accountability.
Mayor Brenda Locke said, “Surrey is Canada’s fastest-growing large city, and many families here are currently deprived of basic healthcare. While healthcare is the responsibility of the state government, our residents are in urgent need of these services. To tackle this problem, Surrey is taking steps strategically and collaboratively to bring more family doctors into our community, reduce the burden on emergency rooms, and improve health outcomes. By combining a high-level operating partner with a new Health Care Administrator, we are building capacities, governance and partnerships to deliver outcomes for Surrey residents. ”
Surrey has about 59 family doctors per 100,000 residents, while Vancouver has 136 family doctors per 100,000 residents. To bridge this gap, the City of Surrey’s RFP is looking for a certified operator to plan and manage a number of clinics with an equitable and area-based approach.
Responsibility of the Successful Candidate on RFP:
- It will identify preferred locations and provide complete planning and design support with site selection based on access, equity and community needs.
- The clinics will be fully operational, including clinical administration, patient enrolment and quality and performance monitoring.
- Recruiting, retaining and retaining doctors and interdisciplinary teams through internal recruitment capacity and performance outcomes.
- Partner with Simon Fraser University ‘s School of Medicine (which is set to open next fall) to set up training spaces to train and retain the next generation of family physicians and allied health professionals.
Mayor Locke added, “Surrey’s approach is effective and important. We are matching local leadership with provincial partnerships, aligning with SFU’s new medical school, and pushing for clear standards of performance. This way, we can bridge the gaps in health services in a faster and more sustainable manner. “
Timeframe:
The city hopes to select a preferred candidate by the end of 2025, with the first clinics targeted to open by mid-2026. Details about the RFP, submission deadlines and evaluation criteria are available on https://www.surrey.ca/business-economy/tenders-rfqs-rfps City’s Procurement Portal.
