HealthLink BC (811) - Health Services Helpline - Navigation Support & Telephone Advice From: RNs, Dietitian, Pharmacists

Healthcare Providers

Provided by Government of British Columbia

Call 8-1-1 for free, 24/7 provincial health information and advice for non-emergency situations, with translation available in over 130 languages.
HealthLink BC has many knowledgeable health care professionals available to answer questions. Get help with variety of health topics or find information about health services in B.C. This service is offered by HealthLink BC, part of the Ministry of Health, and is available to everyone in British Columbia. Translation services are available in over 130 languages.

A health service navigator is usually your first point of contact when you call 8-1-1. Navigators can:
  • Provide general health information
  • Help you find healthcare in your community
  • Connect you with the right health care professional
  • Email you health resources
A navigator can help find health services available nearby, such as walk-in clinics or mental health services. They use the HealthLink BC Directory which lists all health services provided around the province.

Navigators also provide support for the Health Connect Registry. They can help individuals register if a family doctor or nurse practitioner is needed, and can also assist with updating or confirming existing registrations.

Navigation services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If there are questions about symptoms or a need for more in-depth health advice, navigators can transfer callers to a registered nurse, registered dietitian, qualified exercise professional, or pharmacist.

  • Nursing Services: You may be connected with a Registered Nurse when you call. The nurses at HealthLink BC can provide advice for non-emergency health concerns, discuss your symptoms and provide health education, and advise if you should seek in-person care from a health care provider. Nursing services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Dietician Services: The Registered Dietitians at HealthLink BC can answer your healthy eating and nutrition questions. They can provide education, information and counselling support on food and nutrition; help you prevent and manage health conditions; work with you to learn about your health goals and offer nutrition and eating advice tailored to your need; help guide you to other health care providers, programs and services in your community; offer information on nutrition-related benefits and other supports for those experiencing difficulties accessing food. Dietitian services are available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

  • Physical Activity Services: Navigators provide access to qualified exercise professionals that provide information, guidance and support to British Columbians of all ages and abilities to help them be more physically active and lead healthier lifestyles. For more information, see Physical Activity Services at HealthLink BC. Qualified exercise professionals are available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

  • Pharmacy Services: Pharmacists at HealthLink BC provide medication advice for people of all ages, including guidance on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, expected benefits and side effects, how long medications take to work, proper storage or disposal, natural health products, and vaccine safety for you or your family. HealthLink BC’s pharmacists can offer support when your community pharmacy may be closed. Pharmacy services are available from 5 pm to 9 am, 7 days a week.

  • Physician Services: Physicians at HealthLink BC provide confidential health information and advice. They can help you stay healthy, get better, manage chronic conditions and seek further treatment, if needed. HealthLink BC physician services are available to 8-1-1 callers after assessment by one of our registered nurses. If the nurse determines that further medical assessment by a doctor would help you get the best advice on when and where you should seek care, they may refer you to your family doctor or nurse practitioner, a health provider in your community or or a HealthLink BC physician.

The 8-1-1 service is for non-emergency situations only. In the event of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1, or your local emergency number.

Dial 8-1-1 (available province wide)

Website: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care...

Interpreter available upon request.

Cost: No cost

Associated Programs/Services

Also offered by Government of British Columbia:

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Availability

Service area: Province-wide + show cities

Service area cities: 100 Mile House, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Aldergrove, Alert Bay, Alexis Creek, Anahim Lake, Anmore, Armstrong, Ashcroft, Atlin, Bamfield, Banff, Barriere, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Black Creek, Blue River, Boston Bar, Bowen Island, Brentwood Bay, Burnaby, Burns Lake, Cache Creek, Calgary, Campbell River, Canmore, Castlegar, Cathedral Grove, Cawston, Chase, Chemainus, Cherryville, Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Christina Lake, Clearwater, Clinton, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Coquitlam, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Crawford Bay, Creston, Cumberland, Daajing Giids (Queen Charlotte City), Dawson Creek, Dease Lake, Deep Bay, Delta, Denman Island, Duncan, Edgewood, Edmonton, Elkford, Enderby, Fanny Bay, Fernie, Fort Langley, Fort Nelson, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fraser Lake, Fruitvale, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gibsons, Gitlaxt'aamiks (New Aiyansh), Golden, Gold River, Grand Forks, Grand Prairie, Granisle, Greenwood, Hanceville, Harrison Mills, Hazelton, Hope, Hornby Island, Horne Lake, Houston, Hudson's Hope, Invermere, Kamloops, Kaslo, Kelowna, Keremeos, Kimberley, Kispiox, Kitimat, Kwadacha Nation (Fort Ware), Kyuquot, Ladner, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Lake Cowichan, Langford, Langley, Lantzville, Lethbridge, Lillooet, Lions Bay, Logan Lake, Long Beach, Lumby, Lytton, Mackenzie, Maple Ridge, Masset, Mayne Island, McBride, Merritt, Merville, Midway, Mill Bay, Mission, Nakusp, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Nelson, New Denver, New Westminster, Nitinaht, North Delta, North Saanich, North Vancouver, Okanagan Falls, Okotoks, Oliver, Osoyoos, Oyama, Parksville, Peachland, Pemberton, Pender Harbour, Pender Island, Penelakut Island, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Coquitlam, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Princeton, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Riske Creek, Rock Creek, Rossland, Saanich, Saanichton, Salmo, Salmon Arm, Salt Spring Island, Sardis, Saturna Island, Sayward, Scotch Creek, Sechelt, Shawnigan Lake, Sicamous, Sidney, Skidegate, Slocan, Smithers, Sointula, Sooke, Sorrento, South Surrey, Sparwood, Spences Bridge, Squamish, Stewart, Summerland, Sun Peaks, Surrey, Tahsis, Tatla Lake, Telkwa, Terrace, Tofino, Trail, Tsawwassen, Tumbler Ridge, Ucluelet, Valemount, Vancouver, Vanderhoof, Vernon, Victoria, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake, Winlaw, Witset, Yale, and Zeballos

Service Types Provided
Ways to Access
  • After Hours Services
  • Provided by phone

The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

  1. First Name
  2. Last Name
  3. Email
  4. In which city/town do you work?
  5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
  6. Employer Name (for office staff)
  7. Office Phone

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