Sorrento & Area Community Health Centre

It Takes a Community to Build a Health Centre

When Sorrento found itself without a doctor many years ago, a committee of local volunteers
began the process of recruiting a primary care provider. When they learned of a Provincial
Government program called NP4BC, they successfully applied for a Nurse Practitioner position.

Interior Health employs the NPs at the Health Centre but it is the community’s responsibility to
provide clinic space and employ office staff. To achieve this, the volunteers formed a nonprofit
Society which endeavoured to operate the clinic and do the necessary fundraising.

The community was exceptionally supportive. Everyone, from individuals to local business
owners to regional and provincial levels of government contributed to ensure the clinic’s
success. Office space was found, receptionists were hired and our first NP, Judy Deringer,
began practising at the Sorrento and Area Community Health Centre in November 2013.

When Judy retired in 2018, we welcomed NP Theresa Walters. Subsequently, Interior Health
provided the clinic with a second full-time NP position and we were thrilled to add NP Lyndsay
Lazzarotto to our clinic family. Theresa and family moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2025 and in
February 2026, NP Debi Wong joined us to continue to provide primary care for our local
residents. Our dedicated NPs now provide outstanding care to 1,400 patients.

The Sorrento and Area Community Health Centre Society consists of a volunteer Board of
Directors who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the clinic. We work in partnership
with Interior Health who continues to provide our Nurse Practitioners and much of our funding.

Our clinic remains a community-run effort. Without our volunteers, the Sorrento and Area
Community Health Centre would not function. Their dedication ensures that our community
continues to have quality medical care; an achievement we can be very proud of!