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May 23, 2017

Leaders from Vancouver Fire and Rescue, PHSA, Ministry of Health, BCEHS, City of Vancouver, VCH, PHC gather in December to open the MMU.

Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) Update

After being temporarily assigned to help with the overdose crisis the Mobile Medical Unit’s (MMU) deployment on the Downtown Eastside (DTES) is ending. The unit is moving out of the space at 58 West Hastings May 23 and 24, and being redeployed for training sessions at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver.

The MMU, which is a provincial resource owned by PHSA and had been on loan to VCH and PHC, was deployed in December as a temporary measure due to the spike in overdoses DTES. Services have been changing at the unit as other, more permanent services are being put in place.

As part of the transition plan:

  • VCH outreach staff, who have followed clients seen at the MMU, are still available to refer people to addictions care, medical and other services. Up to May 19 the outreach team was based in the MMU but another DTES building or trailer is being sourced for the team to move in to. They can be contacted by calling 604-360-2874.
  • DTES Connections will continue to see clients seeking treatment seven days a week. The clinic’s hours have been extended to 5:30 pm daily and will soon be extended further.
  • BC Ambulance is taking overdose patients to St. Paul’s and Vancouver General Hospitals, and as part of new protocols, may now take low-risk overdose patients to any appropriate community clinic, including DTES Connections.

Overdose and substance use clients can now access permanent low barrier addiction treatment services, including:

  • The DTES Connections clinic opened March 1 and has already helped more than 330 clients. Clients can start on Suboxone or methadone right away, with their first dose provided within two hours.
  • Substance Use Treatment and Response Team, or START, opened in August in Vancouver. The program provides rapid access to at-home detox for those who need help stopping or stabilizing their substance use. To date, over 300 clients have received services.
  • The St. Paul’s Rapid Access Addictions Clinic (RAAC) is now open, acting as a new outpatient addiction clinic where clients can access treatment and care. More than 620 clients have accessed the service so far.
  • Five overdose prevention sites are open in the DTES providing a safe space to be monitored and access to take-home naloxone kits.
  • Clients can also continue to receive primary care, substance use services, methadone and public health services at the Pender and Downtown Community Health Centres in the DTES.

We have been working with community partners to ensure people are aware of these changes and let them know where to access other permanent programs. We appreciate your patience, flexibility and work during this challenging time.

More information about overdoses and services can be found on the VCH Overdose page.

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