Healthcare

Sheila Malcolmson, left, Diane Brennan and Emmy Manson, respective Nanaimo MLA, Island Health board director and Snuneymuxw band councillor, during a photo op at a press conference announcing high-acuity unit construction at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

High-acuity unit now being built at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

New unit, along with ICU also under construction, will expand access to critical care

 

L-R: Regional District Hospital Board Chair Loyal Wooldridge, Interior Health Authority President and CEO Susan Brown, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield, Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. (Gary Barnes/Capital News)

Minister Dix announces urgent care centre coming to Kelowna

The new centre will open in the fall at 110 Highway 33

 

The Post-COVID clinic at Royal Jubilee Hospital with transition to a virtual model April 1, 2023. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Victoria post-COVID clinics close for in-person treatment

The Provincial Health Authority says referrals are low and many are already accessing care virtually

 

A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Quebec City. In B.C., pharmacist Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh is serving a one month suspension for faking his COVID vaccine records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

B.C. pharmacist suspended for faking his own COVID vaccine records

Vaccination became regulatory college requirement in October 2021

A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Quebec City. In B.C., pharmacist Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh is serving a one month suspension for faking his COVID vaccine records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he’d implement a countrywide standardized test for nurses and doctors, making it easier for them to switch provinces or enter Canada from other countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Poilievre calls for testing that would allow doctors, nurses to work across Canada

Conservative leader says he’d implement a countrywide standardized test

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he’d implement a countrywide standardized test for nurses and doctors, making it easier for them to switch provinces or enter Canada from other countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A health-care rally drew hundreds of frustrated residents from all over the North Island to the Town of Port McNeill on Saturday, March 11. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

Hundreds gather for rally as Island Health details North Island health crisis response

North Island residents say their voices are continuing to be ignored by Island Health

A health-care rally drew hundreds of frustrated residents from all over the North Island to the Town of Port McNeill on Saturday, March 11. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s 2022 Citizen of the Year. Sparrow, an ER doctor at Kootenay Lake Hospital, also volunteers his time responding to emergency calls after founding the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘If I can go, I go’: Nelson ER doctor saves lives in his spare time

Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s Citizen of the Year

Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s 2022 Citizen of the Year. Sparrow, an ER doctor at Kootenay Lake Hospital, also volunteers his time responding to emergency calls after founding the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association. Photo: Tyler Harper
A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson

‘Really worrisome’: Survey suggests some Alberta doctors have anti-Indigenous biases

8% of respondents said they felt unfavourable towards Indigenous patients

A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson
James Hanson is the vice-president of North Island clinical operations for Island Health. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)

Island Health executive answers tough questions about North Island health care

James Hanson addresses lack of staff, public criticism other health care challenges in the region

James Hanson is the vice-president of North Island clinical operations for Island Health. (Tyson Whitney - North Island Gazette)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby announced an agreement in principle on a 10-year health care funding deal. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Trudeau, Eby announce $27 billion B.C. health care deal

The PM and premier in Langley to announce 10-year pact

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby announced an agreement in principle on a 10-year health care funding deal. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror

‘Quite remarkable’: B.C. commits close to $1 billion for mental health, addictions

Investment standout piece from $6.4-billion health-care spending promise

A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror
B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)

B.C. to become 1st in Canada to give free prescription contraception by spring

Change to coincide with pharmacists gaining power to prescribe

B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)
Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley

233 people – living and dead – donated organs in B.C. in 2022

527 people were still waiting for a life-saving transplant at the end of the year

Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley
Olena Boiko and her husband Volodymyr take their 10-month-old son Yaroslav for a walk in the city centre of Lviv, Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Yaroslav was born in the bomb shelter of the hospital in Lviv a few months after the Russian invasion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Osman

Birth in bomb shelters: Ukrainian midwives look to Canada for training

Midwives aren’t licensed to do home births in Ukraine, but the war is forcing them to

Olena Boiko and her husband Volodymyr take their 10-month-old son Yaroslav for a walk in the city centre of Lviv, Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Yaroslav was born in the bomb shelter of the hospital in Lviv a few months after the Russian invasion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Osman
The number of training spots for midwives at UBC will nearly double, the province announced Friday, going from20 to 48. (Black Press Media file photo)

Training spots for midwives in B.C. to nearly double amid provincial funding

The provincial government announced additional funding for B.C.’s only midwifery program at UBC

The number of training spots for midwives at UBC will nearly double, the province announced Friday, going from20 to 48. (Black Press Media file photo)
Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi. (BC Green Party handout photo)

Why a top B.C. heart surgeon quit for politics

‘I didn’t in good conscience think we were providing the best possible care to our patients anymore’

  • Feb 13, 2023
Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi. (BC Green Party handout photo)
A view of the exterior of the emergency department at the Arrow Lakes Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)

Concerns raised after man dies on B.C. hospital doorstep

Nakusp man’s family drove him to the hospital after an ambulance took too long to arrive

  • Feb 13, 2023
A view of the exterior of the emergency department at the Arrow Lakes Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)
North Island College student Vincent Michaud in the chemistry lab at NIC’s Campbell River campus. Photo supplied

North Island College introduces new pre-health program to help fill Island health-care gaps

A new dedicated university-level pathway at North Island College will help make…

  • Feb 10, 2023
North Island College student Vincent Michaud in the chemistry lab at NIC’s Campbell River campus. Photo supplied
B.C. health minister Adrian Dix calls on Ottawa to improve its health care offer, while echoing the conciliatory tone of Premier David Eby. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

‘I’m not going to be negative, but they have to do better’: Dix on federal health offer

Health care minister Adrian Dix calls on feds to improve offer of $600 million to B.C.

B.C. health minister Adrian Dix calls on Ottawa to improve its health care offer, while echoing the conciliatory tone of Premier David Eby. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Official Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon of the B.C. Liberals said B.C. health care system is getting worse after the release of a study that shows British Columbians waited 79 minutes to a see walk-in-clinic doctor. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. has the 2nd worst wait times for walk-in clinics across Canada: Survey

B.C. residents waited 79 minutes to see a walk-in physician in 2022

Official Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon of the B.C. Liberals said B.C. health care system is getting worse after the release of a study that shows British Columbians waited 79 minutes to a see walk-in-clinic doctor. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)