Finding a primary care provider

It is helpful to have a supportive primary care provider A person’s main health care provider in non-emergency situations such as check-ups and referrals. Family doctors, general practitioners (GPs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are all primary care providers. (family doctor or nurse practitioner) who you can talk to about your health concerns. Primary care providers may help you with gender-related care like hormone therapy or accessing surgery. If they do not offer these services, they can refer you to other providers who do.

Finding a primary care provider can be challenging but there are efforts in B.C. to continue to improve access to them.

Finding a gender-affirming primary care provider

To find a gender-affirming primary care provider you can take the following steps: 

If you already have a provider you can speak with them about your gender-related health care goals. 

If you do not have a provider there are resources to help you find providers accepting new patients in your area. Programs differ from community to community, but most have waitlists that you can add your name to, and you may be able to include information about your gender-affirming care Processes through which a health care system cares for and supports an individual while recognizing and acknowledging their gender and expression. needs (though this does not guarantee that the provider will have experience in this type of care). 

How to find a provider

• Visit the Pathways Medical Care Directory. This directory provides information about how to find a provider or clinic in B.C.
• Contact your local Division of Family Practice to see if they have a patient attachment program. 
• Contact HealthLink BC to speak with a health service navigator who can provide information about how to find a primary care provider in your community. 

Resources for providers

Some providers do not yet have experience providing gender-affirming care to transgender, non-binary Umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care. and Two-Spirit A term used within some Indigenous communities to reflect complex Indigenous understandings of gender and sexuality and the long history of sexual and gender diversity in Indigenous cultures. Two-Spirit encompasses sexual, gender, cultural and spiritual identity. It may refer to cross-gender, multi-gender or non-binary gender roles, non-heterosexual identities, and a range of cultural identities, roles and practices embodied by Two-Spirit peoples. Some people also use "2-Spirit" or "2S." (Source: Battered Women’s Support Services) people, and you may be matched with someone newer to this area of care. If your provider is willing to provide gender-affirming care but they are unsure how, they can visit our Health Professionals section to learn more. 

If you have difficulty connecting to care, contact the Trans Care BC health navigation team.

Finding a walk-in clinic

B.C. has a shortage of primary care providers, so it may take some time to find one. You may need to use walk-in clinics while you are waiting to get a long-term primary care provider. Walk-in clinics may provide gender-related care like hormone therapy or offer help accessing surgery. If not, they can refer you to other providers who do. 

To find walk-in clinics: 

• MediMap is a searchable database of in-person clinics.
• Virtual clinics provide care through online appointments. For example, you can call Telus Health MyCare and request a gender-affirming health care provider.