Doris Savoie Clinic & the Dental Bus

The Clinic and Dental Bus are both located behind the Community Hall at 2115 Sollans Road. Hornby is indeed lucky to have on island access to these important services. We have two Doctors, Bob Henderson and Laura Chalfin who rotate bi-weekly. The Doctors are on call 24 hours a day when on duty and will attend to any emergency no matter the time. Dr. Bob and Dr. Laura are also important members of our community in a social and artistic way. Dr. Bob’s lovely paintings can be seen at the Island Gallery and Dr. Laura has participated in local theatre and sits on the Hornby Festival Board. The Clinic is named after Doris Savoie who spent many years driving the ambulance and who worked tirelessly promoting health services on Hornby. She still lives on Hornby with a large extended family.

Hornby can also offer an unusual trip to the dentist. Dr. Peter Walford has been serving Hornby & Denman Islands for 22 years and has used his wonderful and innovative woodworking skills to upgrade a 1974 Bluebird bus into a work of art that is 38 feet long, has air brakes, and weighs 18,000 Kg. The current dental bus replaced an earlier bus, which served for 17 years before being retired to Sandpiper as a guest house and jazz studio. It takes a whole community to build a dental bus - over 50 Hornbyites lent their talents to aid Dr. Peter in the 3000 hour project of refurbishing and converting the bus into a mobile clinic. It wouldn't be what it is without all this wonderful help. It is the smallest practice in BC at 304 square feet, and the only permanent mobile clinic, employing two Certified Dental Assistants and a Dental Hygienist.

Dr. Peter is 61 years old, a triathelete, wacko musician, avid sailor and boat builder, and plans to retire in about ten years. Recently he has taken up a new career as an educator, mentoring a study club, publishing an educational website, and lecturing to dental groups on different aspects of dental technique. A good part of his subject matter derives from Hornby Island's needs - how to solve big problems with small budgets, innovatively pushing the limits of known technology.

The Doris Savoie Clinic Hours

• Mon / Thur: 10 to 12 then 1 to 5
• Tues: 9 to 1
• Wed / Fri: 1 to 5
• Appointments call: 335-3036
• Emergencies call: 911

The Dental Bus Hours

• Mon to Fri: 9 to 2:30 (call to see when on Hornby)
• Appointments call: 335-2933

Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society

This society was formed in 1979 to provide home support services to community members “to maintain their optimum function, socially, emotionally and physically, minimizing complications in illness, stress in crisis, and physical and emotional deterioration in the aging.” It owns and maintains a Centre on Hornby (1965 Sollans Rd) and, in association with the Vancouver Island Health Authority, it manages the Doris Savoie Medical Clinic. It provides the following services:

• Home Support & Home Assist Services
• Equipments loans
• Lending Library
• Counselling Services
• Youth and Family Programs
• Food Security Programs
• Volunteer Services Community
• Self-help and Support Groups

Call 250-335-2885 for more information

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