Nursing Support Services (NSS) assists parents and caregivers of children and youth (0-19) with medical complexities to lead active, healthy lives in their communities.

How to access

  • Check eligibility

    Provides services for children aged 0 to 19 years. Contact Powell River Nursing Support Services to learn about accessing these services. A health-care professional will discuss the child's needs, eligibility and the referral process.

  • Get a referral

    A referral from a physician or nurse practitioner is required. To make a referral, please send the Nursing Support Services referral form to the email or fax number listed on the form.

    Nursing support services referral form

Hours of operation

Currently open
  • Monday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday:   8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday:   Closed
  • Sunday:   Closed

Parking and transportation

​​Free parking is available.

Getting here by ferry

qathet General Hospital is two ferry rides away from the City of Vancouver.

Take the Langdale ferry from the Horseshoe Bay Terminal.  Ferry schedules can be found at: http://bcferries.com. Drive up the Sunshine Coast along Hwy 101 from Langdale to Earl's Cove.  Take the Saltery Bay ferry from Earl's Cove.

From the Saltery Bay ferry terminal, travel along Hwy 101 for approximately 20 km until you reach a "Welcome to Powell River" sign.  Continue inside the city limits until you reach a street with a right-hand lane and a store/gas station called Pacific Point Market.  At the corner on your right, turn right.  You are now on Joyce Avenue.  Follow Joyce Avenue through four sets of stoplights.  Approximately 1 km past the fourth light, you will approach the hospital on the right.

Getting here by air

Contact Pacific Coastal Airlines by e-mail at www.pacific-coastal.com or by telephone at 1-800-663-2872 for schedules of flights from Vancouver. 

Nursing Support Services

Nursing Support Services provides care for children and youth whose care needs require the scope of practice of a registered nurse for some aspects of their care due to the child/youth's medically complex and fragile health needs.

We provide in-home respite care for children who may:

  • have a tracheostomy,
  • require supported ventilation (ventilator, BiPAP, CPAP),
  • have a life-limiting/palliative diagnosis,
  • require peritoneal dialysis or
  • have other conditions that require the support of a registered nurse.

We provide delegated care in the school setting through teaching and supervising school staff to care for children with:

  • diabetes,
  • tube feeds,
  • oral suctioning needs and
  • catheterization needs

 Facilitation of the At Home Program

Complete eligibility assessments for the At Home Program supported through the Ministry of Children & Family Development (MCFD).

For more information about Nursing Support Services, please visit bcchildrens.ca.

qathet General Hospital

qathet General Hospital (formerly Powell River General Hospital) is a 42-bed facility providing services that include surgery, endoscopy, ICU, obstetrics, in-patient psychiatry, oncology, emergency and diagnostic services.

Paediatric Nursing Support Services

Paediatric nursing support services provide community-based paediatric medical services for children 0 to 19 years with complex medical conditions such as diabetes, seizures, tube feeding, and catheters.