Content Map Terms

Last updated: September 20, 2024

You can call 8-1-1 to get free health information and advice. This service is offered by HealthLink BC, part of the Ministry of Health, and is available to everyone in British Columbia.

Navigation Services

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

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

Ask general health questions

Navigators can support you with answers to simple health questions like:

Do I need a tetanus shot?
When will my child need their next vaccine?
What temperature is considered a fever?

If you have questions about your symptoms or need more in-depth health advice, a navigator can transfer you to a registered nurse, registered dietitian, qualified exercise professional, or pharmacist.

Get access to health services

A navigator can help you find health services available near you, 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 you register if you need a family doctor or nurse practitioner. They can also assist you with updating or confirming your registration.

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
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.

Assess your symptoms

If you or someone in your care is experiencing a health concern, you can explain your symptoms to a nurse at 8-1-1. Nurses can assess symptoms and help determine next steps.

This may include providing home treatment options or identifying if you need to seek further medical attention. If you have questions about a diagnosis, nurses can offer health education including self-management options.

Help you manage your health and wellbeing

Nurses have specialized knowledge about a variety of health topics such as:

Palliative care
Chronic illness
Mental health
Overall health promotion and education

Dietitian 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 needs
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, or you can email a dietitian.

Manage your nutrition needs

You can talk to a dietitian about food, nutrients, supplements, food safety and food security. Dietitians consider your personal needs, preferences and challenges to help manage various health conditions. These include diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, gastrointestinal conditions, food allergies and others.

Get nutrition support for cancer care

Dietitians with knowledge in oncology nutrition can help with food and nutrition questions related to cancer. Oncology dietitians can:

Support people who have or have had cancer
Offer advice on how to care for family or friends with cancer
Provide information on cancer prevention
Discuss nutrition during or after treatment

Cancer patients can access the Oncology Nutrition Service by calling 8-1-1 or through a referral from their health care provider.

Get nutrition support for kids

Dietitians with knowledge in pediatric nutrition are available to support infants, children and youth with their health and well-being. This includes children with special health needs. They can help with concerns such as:

Feeding problems
Food allergies
Vitamin and mineral supplementation
Growth above or below expected patterns

Learn more about dietitian services (PDF,384KB)

Physical Activity Services

Qualified Exercise Professionals at Physical Activity Services are university-qualified allied health professionals. They provide physical activity and healthy lifestyle education and guidance to all individuals, including those with chronic health conditions, functional limitations and/or physical disabilities. Qualified exercise professionals can:

Educate and advise about healthy physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep
Prescribe physical activity to improve and maintain fitness, health status and function
Provide pre-screening for fitness programs requiring clearance for physical activity participation
Find appropriate fitness programs, health professionals and health services in your community

Qualified exercise professionals are available 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, or you can email a qualified exercise professional.

Get personalized guidance on healthy movement

Our team can help you move more, sit less and sleep better through:

Education about optimal levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep and advice on how to achieve these levels
Personalized physical activity interventions based on your needs, health status and activity level
Support with identifying and overcoming barriers, action planning and goal setting to achieve healthy movement

Find and join fitness programs

Qualified exercise professionals can help you find public and virtual physical activity resources that meet your needs and preferences. They can also provide you with pre-screening to participate in individual and group fitness programs requiring clearance for participation in physical activity (e.g., Choose to Move and Osteofit).

Support for health care professionals

Physical Activity Services collaborates with health and fitness professionals and programs and health care teams to support an integrated approach to patient care by:

Providing evidence-based physical activity and healthy lifestyle information and guidance for health promotion and chronic disease prevention and management
Supporting lifestyle behaviour change using evidence-informed frameworks and tools
Providing prehabilitation and rehabilitation resources for preparation and/or recovery from medical procedures (i.e., joint replacement, cancer or bariatric surgeries)
Identifying appropriate public and virtual resources for the betterment of fitness, health and quality of life

Learn more about Physical Activity Services (PDF,180KB).

Pharmacy Services

Pharmacists at HealthLink BC can offer advice on your prescriptions and non-prescription medications. They can support you at any age or in any stage of life. You can talk to a pharmacist about:

Expected benefits or side effects of your medication
How long it takes for medication to start working
Proper medication storage or disposal
Taking over-the-counter medications (including natural health products)
Vaccine safety for you or your family member

Pharmacy services are available from 5 pm to 9 am, 7 days a week. HealthLink BC’s pharmacists can offer support when your community pharmacy may be closed.

Ask specific medication questions

You can ask pharmacists questions about how to take your medication properly, recommended dosage, or what to do if you:

Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Accidently miss a dose or take an extra dose of medication
Vomit after taking your medication

Get support for treatment and care

Pharmacists can support you by recommending treatments for health conditions. With your permission, pharmacists can access your health record and medication information to assess your needs better.

HealthLink BC pharmacists will work with you to identify what can be done by your local pharmacist and when you may require additional assistance for your health needs.

Pharmacists in B.C. can also assess and treat 21 minor ailments, prescribe contraceptives and renew some of your prescriptions.

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.

Learn more about Physician Services.