West Saanich Medical Clinic - Victoria, British Columbia

M K.

My doctor here is personable, prompt, and straightforward. She has been very transparent, very realistic about what’s possible within the current state of our medical system in BC. The front-office is definitely a bit chaotic (be prepared to advocate for yourself at the front desk), but all in all this is an approachable clinic and clients are treated kindly.

Naomi B.

Like another who posted before, I feel so lucky to have found this place. I moved to the island in July from Vancouver and signed up for the doctor intake, although with mostly good health I am pessimistic I’ll ever get a doctor through it. I’d been relying on virtual telehealth through work or a walk in located in Vancouver I can still access when there but when I’d had bronchitis or something for 3.5 weeks and needed my lungs listened to, I needed another option. I emailed my intake form to their email address and had an appointment within 48 hours. The doctor was so kind and thorough and even allowed me to book a follow up appointment. She prescribed antibiotics, an inhaler and sent me for a chest xray. The above and beyond came in when she read my xray results right away (kudos to the xray place for also sending so quickly) and called to tell me I could hold off on the antibiotics as my lungs looked good. I don’t like taking antibiotics when not needed and felt that was something my old doc would not have had time to do.
Perhaps perspective is everything. In a place without doctors, to get what should be the usual, felt like a miracle. Also I personally love email being their main system.

Sally H.

Honestly, I cannot praise this clinic enough for the amazing customer service, especially the receptionist who went over and above in her effort to help me. I had a crisis around procuring a prescription for a vaccine, with a really short time frame. They pulled out all stops to ensure that I got it, in time for my appointment for the special vaccine. I work in long term care and take the responsibility seriously to protect my residents by not bringing diseases into their midst from places afar.
Thank you and kudos to them for their great customer service!

Alex V.

Honestly I don't know if I just got lucky or if the secret was to request an appointment through the website, but I had a great experience. I didn't have have to wait that long when I arrived (Around 30 minutes) and I was able to get an appointment within 2 days of my initial email (which for me was very important because it turned out I had an infection that required antibiotics, and I would've had to wait two weeks to see my family doctor for an issue they were able to diagnose within a minute of me being there). Everyone was professional and polite, Dr Edels was very kind and approachable and it was overall one of the best experienced I've had when it comes to any sort of medical facility.

David &. C. S.

The clinic failed to honour an appointment for flu shots for a three-person family today at 2pm. The appointment had been made in-person with the receptionist a few days prior and was also confirmed in-person. We arrived on time to find the clinic locked with a 'closed' sign on the door together with at least two signs advising patients not to knock on the glass as staff came outside regularly to speak to patients. As the clinic does not answer phone calls, we waited 10 minutes and knocked, then waited another 20 minutes without the door being opened, despite Dr. Chew and the receptionist being visible in the waiting room.

At 2.30pm after we knocked a second time, the door was opened a crack by Dr. Chew with a reprimand for doing so. The receptionist denied that the appointment had been made for 2pm. She advised that they were in a training session and could not give the shots at this time and Dr. Chew
agreed. After several exchanges, the receptionist advised that they would be finished at 5pm and would see us then. Dr. Chew agreed.

Not trusting that a second appointment would be honoured and not feeling medically confident in going forward with a clinic of unprofessional and disrespectful behaviour, we departed. Despite this posting requiring a minimum of one star, we assign zero stars and are pleased not to be patients at this clinic on any basis.

Debra P.

Getting an appointment is impossible. Their answering machine says to email them, info on website. But there is no website and no email address listed

Updated: thank you for the quick response to my frustration rating. Through trial and error I added the www. to the front of the website address mentioned on the answering machine and it went directly to the website. I sent off my email and got a response with an appointment time very quickly following this.

Dr Chew has been my family doctor for over 25 years, best bedside manner and I mean bedside. When my husband was dying of cancer, he made several home visits and phone calls and this was all during covid. Doctors today just don’t do that! Thank you it meant a lot to both of us

magdalenamarie M.

Lovely and attentive staff who go out of their way to find you an appointment. Doctors have all been compassionate and empathetic, especially considering all of the difficulties with health care these days. Office is spacious and they make sure you feel comfortable with all of the covid precautions.

Wendy M.

Very rude admin. Barked at me to sanitize my hands as soon as I entered the front door. She then told me they don't do walk-ins only appointments. She asked what the issue was and told me to go to a critical care unit as if I knew what that was. She said its something between a walk in and emergency. I asked her where I could go and she said there are 7 places in Victoria and barked "Look it up." I would give this clinic a zero if I could.