Healthcare

Hospital Employees Union members from Vernon’s Heron Grove hosted a two-hour rally outside the facility Wednesday, Sept. 27. Staff at Heron Grove and six other facilities owned and operated by the Good Samaritan Canada Society hosted rallies as they try to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. (Roger Knox - Black Press)

B.C. care facilities rally outside in contract dispute

Staff at Good Samaritan Canada facilities in Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm and Coast seek support

 

A registered nurse pulls on an N-95 mask in a COVID Acute Care Unit in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Masking returning to B.C. hospitals, clinics as respiratory illnesses rise

COVID-19, influenza vaccines to begin rolling out in early October

 

B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks at a health care announcement at Surrey Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. says $20 million will reduce travel costs for cancer patients

New funds especially important for patients in rural, remote areas, health minister says

 

Malika Lim is one of 31 British Columbians who together authored a report on primary care reform in B.C., including 25 recommendations for change. (Photo courtesy of Malika Lim)

Patient-led report calls for primary care reform in B.C.

Panel of 31 British Columbians recommends community health centres, expanded care coverage

Malika Lim is one of 31 British Columbians who together authored a report on primary care reform in B.C., including 25 recommendations for change. (Photo courtesy of Malika Lim)
Relatives of Maurice “Mo” Miller, Mary Miller-Duffy, his sister, center left, and Sue Duffy, her wife, embrace after seeing his body at NYU Langone Health in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. For a history-making 61 days and despite a brief rejection blip, a pig’s kidney worked normally inside his brain-dead body. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Pig kidney works a record 2 months in donated body, raising hope for animal-human transplants

Dozens of doctors and nurses silently lined the hospital hallway in tribute:…

Relatives of Maurice “Mo” Miller, Mary Miller-Duffy, his sister, center left, and Sue Duffy, her wife, embrace after seeing his body at NYU Langone Health in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. For a history-making 61 days and despite a brief rejection blip, a pig’s kidney worked normally inside his brain-dead body. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)
Physician shortage temporary closes Oliver hospital emergency. (File photo)

South Okanagan emergency department closes 4 days in a row

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency has struggled to staff doctors for months

Physician shortage temporary closes Oliver hospital emergency. (File photo)
Fraser Health has launched its virtual psychiatric unit September 2023. It’s the first of its kind in B.C. and had admitted and discharged 140 patients so far. (Fraser Health)

Fraser Health launches 1st virtual psychiatry unit in B.C.

It operates the like a brick-and-mortar hospital, but patients are in the comfort of their own home

Fraser Health has launched its virtual psychiatric unit September 2023. It’s the first of its kind in B.C. and had admitted and discharged 140 patients so far. (Fraser Health)
Housing emerged as the one of the top issues during recent provincial budget consultations. Other top of mind issues include health care, the environment but also regulatory reform and labour shortages, according to the final report from the legislative committee that had toured the province earlier this year. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Housing, health care, climate should be central to B.C.’s next budget: report

Final report from provincial finance committee released after extensive public consultation

Housing emerged as the one of the top issues during recent provincial budget consultations. Other top of mind issues include health care, the environment but also regulatory reform and labour shortages, according to the final report from the legislative committee that had toured the province earlier this year. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
The Penticton Regional Hospital provides health care service in British Columbia’s South Okanagan. Which hospital in Canada is the oldest still operating hospital? (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: A tribute to first responders

When things go wrong, police, firefighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses are ready to help

The Penticton Regional Hospital provides health care service in British Columbia’s South Okanagan. Which hospital in Canada is the oldest still operating hospital? (Black Press file photo)
Premier David Eby says he wants a rapid solution to finally bring about labour peace at ports in B.C., but warned against legislating longshore workers back to work. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Premier Eby wants ‘rapid solution’ to port strike – but one without legislation

But Eby signalled opposition to federal legislation, saying it takes too long

Premier David Eby says he wants a rapid solution to finally bring about labour peace at ports in B.C., but warned against legislating longshore workers back to work. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A new report calls for “urgent” action given the “breadth of sexual harassment” in the provincial ambulance service. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Report finds ‘breadth of sexual harassment’ at BC Ambulance Service

Chief ambulance officer at BC Emergency Health Services says changes are underway

A new report calls for “urgent” action given the “breadth of sexual harassment” in the provincial ambulance service. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A strike vote will be conducted among staff at Vernon’s Heron Grove facility and six other such long-term residences in B.C. in a dispute with the facilities’ employer, Good Samaritan Canada, over contracting out jobs and benefits. (Morning Star - file photo)

Staff at Okanagan-Shuswap seniors care homes heading to strike vote

7 B.C. facilities; two main issues fueling the fire

A strike vote will be conducted among staff at Vernon’s Heron Grove facility and six other such long-term residences in B.C. in a dispute with the facilities’ employer, Good Samaritan Canada, over contracting out jobs and benefits. (Morning Star - file photo)
The Primacy North Okanagan Medical Clinic in the Vernon Superstore is closing doors Sept. 30, 2023. (Google Street View)

North Okanagan walk-in clinic closing permanently

Primacy Medical Clinic in the Vernon Superstore is closing Sept. 30

The Primacy North Okanagan Medical Clinic in the Vernon Superstore is closing doors Sept. 30, 2023. (Google Street View)
Health Minister Adrian Dix said (B.C. government photo)

New registry to find family doctors, other primary care open in B.C.

Health Minister Adrian Dix publicly announced the expansion Wednesday

Health Minister Adrian Dix said (B.C. government photo)
Tai August fitting a young person with a breast binder in Salmon Arm. (Tai August/Submitted)

Gender-affirming care for youth is lifesaving, say B.C. experts

Transgender youth are at increased risk of mental distress without access to gender affirming care

Tai August fitting a young person with a breast binder in Salmon Arm. (Tai August/Submitted)
By searching symptoms in the Medimap software, the site will recommend pharmacies available for treatment of the specified symptoms or ailment.

1 month into new rules for pharmacy prescriptions, B.C. data shows popularity

Canadian company ‘Medimap’ aims to reduce clinic strain by recommending pharmacies for treatment

By searching symptoms in the Medimap software, the site will recommend pharmacies available for treatment of the specified symptoms or ailment.
The new five-storey care home facility is expected to be completed by 2027. (City of Abbotsford photo)

New long-term care home coming to Abbotsford

Five-storey facility set to begin construction in 2025 and be completed by 2027

The new five-storey care home facility is expected to be completed by 2027. (City of Abbotsford photo)
Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo) Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo)

Northern Health names one of its own as new president

Ciro Panessa has served as northwest chief operating officer in Terrace since 2017

Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo) Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo)
Cariboo Regional District in Williams Lake. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Cariboo Chilcotin hospital district supports urgent, primary care clinics

Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) is adding their voice to support…

Cariboo Regional District in Williams Lake. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix, right, and Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee at a health care announcement at Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)

Dix plans summer tour as B.C. hospitals, health care facing ‘crises’

Health minister says challenges different in each region, but broad issue of healthcare is a B.C.-wide problem

B.C’s Health Minister Adrian Dix, right, and Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee at a health care announcement at Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)