Healthcare

(Pixabay)

Health officials push B.C. doctors, nurse practitioners to resume in-person appointments

Many health care providers went to virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic

(Pixabay)
Close to 75 protesters with signs marched between FIr Park Village and Echo Village long-term care homes in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 to advocate for better conditions and management at the facilities. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Supporters protest conditions at two Port Alberni care homes as grievances pile up

Staff shortages are compromising care, says Echo Village resident

Close to 75 protesters with signs marched between FIr Park Village and Echo Village long-term care homes in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 to advocate for better conditions and management at the facilities. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Royal Roads University in Colwood is hosting vaccination clinics on the next three Wednesdays in September. (Black Press Media file photo)

Royal Roads University opens vaccination clinics to the public in Colwood

Wednesday clinics will allow “everyone in the community” to get their 1st or 2nd dose

Royal Roads University in Colwood is hosting vaccination clinics on the next three Wednesdays in September. (Black Press Media file photo)
Some residents held a counter-rally at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley campus Thursday afternoon, showing their support for health care workers. Photo supplied.

Counter-rally sends messages of thanks to Vancouver Island hospital workers

Residents hold support rally one day after COVID restrictions protest at Comox Valley hospital

Some residents held a counter-rally at the North Island Hospital Comox Valley campus Thursday afternoon, showing their support for health care workers. Photo supplied.
The BC Legislature will be lit in pink on Thursday evening in support of healthcare workers, some of whom faced the wrath of vaccine protesters Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. legislature to be lit in pink Thursday to support health-care workers

Vaccine-related protests occurred outside hospitals across B.C. on Wednesday

The BC Legislature will be lit in pink on Thursday evening in support of healthcare workers, some of whom faced the wrath of vaccine protesters Wednesday. (Black Press Media file photo)
Nikik Lucas holds up a picture of her son Dustin, who died of an accidental drug overdose in February 2016. Lucas, who is part of Moms Stop The Harm, stands near the commercial plaza in Sidney where she works. The site also features memorials to two other sons of Sidney residents. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney mother mourning the overdose death of her son calls for more government action

Niki Lucas will remember her son Dustin during International Overdose Awareness Day

Nikik Lucas holds up a picture of her son Dustin, who died of an accidental drug overdose in February 2016. Lucas, who is part of Moms Stop The Harm, stands near the commercial plaza in Sidney where she works. The site also features memorials to two other sons of Sidney residents. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2011, file photo, a doctor examines a pregnant woman at the district women’s hospital, in Allahabad, in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)

Online tool helps break misconceptions around future pregnancies after a C-section

B.C. has Canada’s highest C-section rate at 37 per cent

FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2011, file photo, a doctor examines a pregnant woman at the district women’s hospital, in Allahabad, in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)
Melanie Rivers, whose ancestral name is Tiyaltelwet, is the Squamish Nation artist behind the report’s cover art, poem and dedication. (Katya Slepian/Black Press Media)

Ancestral roots: Indigenous women, girls’ health report highlights hurdles, traditions

Artist Melanie Rivers describes the inspiration between report’s cover art, poem

Melanie Rivers, whose ancestral name is Tiyaltelwet, is the Squamish Nation artist behind the report’s cover art, poem and dedication. (Katya Slepian/Black Press Media)
Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. (File photo)

Rural B.C. emergency room to close overnight for days as staffing shortages plague hospital

Ambulances will take patients to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops

Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. (File photo)
Healthcare workers from Women’s College Hospital prepare doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccine clinic in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood, in the M3N postal code, on Saturday, April 17, 2021.

B.C. mandates COVID-19 vaccination for all long-term care, assisted living workers

All workers must be vaccinated by Oct. 12

Healthcare workers from Women’s College Hospital prepare doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccine clinic in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighbourhood, in the M3N postal code, on Saturday, April 17, 2021.
AccessBC continues its advocacy for no-cost prescription contraception in B.C through a letter-writing campaign. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich-based group continues its call for no-cost birth control

Access BC wants free contraception included in 2022 provincial budget

AccessBC continues its advocacy for no-cost prescription contraception in B.C through a letter-writing campaign. (Black Press Media file photo)
There is a critical doctor shortage in the Comox Valley. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE

Doctor shortage reaching critical point in the Comox Valley

Division of Family Practice working with the province to address current doctor shortage

There is a critical doctor shortage in the Comox Valley. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE
Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health. (Interior Health photo)

2 Interior Health employees withdraw from Aboriginal health positions over criticism

The employees were not Indigenous and believed the hiring process to be discriminatory

Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health. (Interior Health photo)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, left, and Premier John Horgan chat with attendees after the announcement of the creation of primary care networks, targeting people without a family doctor, in May 2018. (Photo courtesy B.C. Government)

Langford couple ‘left high and dry’ in search for a family physician

West Shore centre has matched 3,300 less patients with medical practitioners than promised in 2018

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, left, and Premier John Horgan chat with attendees after the announcement of the creation of primary care networks, targeting people without a family doctor, in May 2018. (Photo courtesy B.C. Government)
Lucia (Stqwal) Bartleman has been appointed as an Indigenous patient navigator at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital following a report that found Indigenous-specific racism to be widespread in B.C.’s healthcare system. (Island Health/Vimeo)

Indigenous patient navigator appointed to Saanich Peninsula Hospital following racism probe

Review found Indigenous-specific racism exists in B.C. health care

Lucia (Stqwal) Bartleman has been appointed as an Indigenous patient navigator at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital following a report that found Indigenous-specific racism to be widespread in B.C.’s healthcare system. (Island Health/Vimeo)
Bryan Slater has been using the DexcomG6 for around three years. The device helps him monitor his diabetes. British Columbia has now expanded BC PharmaCare coverage for this technology. (Contributed)

Extended glucose monitoring coverage saves Summerland man more than $5,000 a year

British Columbia is the first province to reimburse people with diabetes using monitoring system

Bryan Slater has been using the DexcomG6 for around three years. The device helps him monitor his diabetes. British Columbia has now expanded BC PharmaCare coverage for this technology. (Contributed)
More than $10 million will go into upping the level of care at Salt Spring Island’s Lady Minto Hospital. (Courtesy of Google Streetview)

Salt Spring Island’s Lady Minto Hospital to receive $10.4-million expansion

Project will double the hospital’s acute and primary care capacity

More than $10 million will go into upping the level of care at Salt Spring Island’s Lady Minto Hospital. (Courtesy of Google Streetview)
The Dexcom G6 (Dexcom) continuous glucose monitor will now be covered through BC Pharmacare.

B.C. government announces medical device coverage for people with diabetes

‘This is an amazing life- and sanity-saving device.’

The Dexcom G6 (Dexcom) continuous glucose monitor will now be covered through BC Pharmacare.
Assetou Coubily is sharing her negative experience at Royal Jubilee Hospital on May 10, where she frets her race played into the care she received. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)

Black woman worries racial bias affected her care at Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital

She reluctantly visited ER on doctor’s urging, says staff disregarded her pain, concerns

Assetou Coubily is sharing her negative experience at Royal Jubilee Hospital on May 10, where she frets her race played into the care she received. (Jake Romphf/ News Staff)
An inquiry by the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives into past practises of two senior officials at the Garth Homer Society, who have had their nursing registration suspended since 2018, has resulted in further suspension and seen conditions imposed on their future nursing-related work. (Garth Homer Foundation)

Suspended senior officials continue to work at Garth Homer Society in Saanich

Euphemia Guttin and Victoria Weber had their nursing registration suspended in May 2018

An inquiry by the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives into past practises of two senior officials at the Garth Homer Society, who have had their nursing registration suspended since 2018, has resulted in further suspension and seen conditions imposed on their future nursing-related work. (Garth Homer Foundation)