Healthcare

Aa patient receives an influenza vaccine in Mesquite, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. At least five children died in British Columbia from influenza last month alone, a rise that comes as an early season of respiratory illnesses adds strain to the beleaguered health-care system.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/LM Otero

Children’s deaths from influenza up in B.C., with five mortalities last month

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an average of five to six kids died per flu season across Canada

 

St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver is shown on April 29, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. doctors ratify new agreement that includes pay increase, more rural funding

3-year agreement includes better after-hours pay, more rural funding, shift toward primary care

 

Daily hospital visits continue to increase in B.C. as cases of respiratory illness surge among kids. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

B.C. hospital visits up about 200 cases a day amid influenza surge

Province one third of the way through its flu season, Dr. Bonnie Henry says

 

An aerial view of Alert Bay, located on Cormorant Island. (alertbay.ca photo)

Cormorant Island health-care crisis continues on, with no end in sight

Two doctors have finished out their contracts, leaving only one doctor now for the entire island

An aerial view of Alert Bay, located on Cormorant Island. (alertbay.ca photo)
(File photo: Tom Zytaruk)

Promised new SFU Surrey medical school to be ready by 2026, B.C. announces

Province announced new injection of up to $4.9 million on Nov. 28

(File photo: Tom Zytaruk)
B.C. Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced changes Nov. 27 to how internationally-trained doctors can practice in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. opens doors to more internationally-trained doctors with new changes

Province tripling spots in licensing program, expediting process for U.S. physicians

B.C. Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced changes Nov. 27 to how internationally-trained doctors can practice in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver naturopath Dr. Jordan Atkinson has been suspended and fined, after he admitted to failing to fully document one patient’s medical records. (Credit: Pixabay/DarkoStojanovic)

Vancouver naturopath suspended after patient says he failed to detect their tumor

Dr. Jordan Atkinson was treating his patient for hemorrhoids at the time

Vancouver naturopath Dr. Jordan Atkinson has been suspended and fined, after he admitted to failing to fully document one patient’s medical records. (Credit: Pixabay/DarkoStojanovic)
The Cannabis Act review comes as yet another hurdle medical cannabis patients have to clear. (Black Press Media file photo)

Cannabis Act legislative review may threaten medical marijuana program

Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club official says current legislation limits access to many in need

The Cannabis Act review comes as yet another hurdle medical cannabis patients have to clear. (Black Press Media file photo)
FILE - A sign requiring masks seen on a storefront in February 2022. Four groups in B.C. are calling on the province to re-introduce a mask mandate, in an open letter published Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Should B.C. reintroduce mask mandate? Groups pen open letter to province

Province says it’s not considering it at this time

FILE - A sign requiring masks seen on a storefront in February 2022. Four groups in B.C. are calling on the province to re-introduce a mask mandate, in an open letter published Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
FILE - The Amazon logo is displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite, July 27, 2018. Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with a new service that uses secure messaging to connect patients with doctors for help with nearly two dozen conditions. The retail giant said Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, it will launch Amazon Clinic in 32 states to provide medication refills and care for conditions like allergies, erectile disfunction, hair loss, and urinary tract infections. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Amazon plans new virtual care offering based on messaging

Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with new services including Amazon pharmacy

FILE - The Amazon logo is displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite, July 27, 2018. Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with a new service that uses secure messaging to connect patients with doctors for help with nearly two dozen conditions. The retail giant said Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, it will launch Amazon Clinic in 32 states to provide medication refills and care for conditions like allergies, erectile disfunction, hair loss, and urinary tract infections. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Frank Duralia, 82, waited in a hospital bed at the Boundary District Hospital in Grand Forks with a broken hip for 59 hours before an ambulance transported him to Trail for surgery. (Credit: Marion Duralia)

‘Excruciating pain’: B.C. man waited 59 hours with broken hip for ambulance transfer

Rural hospital lost its in-patient services in March due to a staffing shortage

Frank Duralia, 82, waited in a hospital bed at the Boundary District Hospital in Grand Forks with a broken hip for 59 hours before an ambulance transported him to Trail for surgery. (Credit: Marion Duralia)
Canada’s health ministers are set to meet in Vancouver on Nov. 7 and 8 to discuss solutions to health-care crises. (Adobe Stock Image)

Doctors, nurses call for action on crumbling care, health ministers meet in Vancouver

Health ministers from across Canada set to meet Monday and Tuesday

Canada’s health ministers are set to meet in Vancouver on Nov. 7 and 8 to discuss solutions to health-care crises. (Adobe Stock Image)
Buena Vista Lodge, a mental health facility with 12 beds, has been in operation in White Rock for over 50 years. The beds at the facility are funded by Fraser Health, but that funding will cease in June once the facility has been sold to a new owner. (Unsplash photo)

B.C. residential mental health facility to close over lack of funding

Owner worried over fate of residents as Fraser Health declines to enter contract with new owner

Buena Vista Lodge, a mental health facility with 12 beds, has been in operation in White Rock for over 50 years. The beds at the facility are funded by Fraser Health, but that funding will cease in June once the facility has been sold to a new owner. (Unsplash photo)
Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., February 25, 2022. In B.C., long-term care residents and their family members are being promised a stronger voice with the creation of new regional councils and a provincial committee. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

B.C. long-term care residents, family promised greater input with new councils

Ministry of Health creating provincial committee to address concerns

Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., February 25, 2022. In B.C., long-term care residents and their family members are being promised a stronger voice with the creation of new regional councils and a provincial committee. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The Prince Rupert Regional Hospital has been under controlled access since Oct. 25, 2022 when an individual made threats against health care workers. The hospital is pictured here on May 5, 2021. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

Prince Rupert hospital locked down, man arrested following threats to health care workers

“Unsettling” trend of increased violence toward health care workers: Health Services Administrator

The Prince Rupert Regional Hospital has been under controlled access since Oct. 25, 2022 when an individual made threats against health care workers. The hospital is pictured here on May 5, 2021. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)
Nolan Beise, founder of Circl, shows off a headset used to measure brain activity. Beise was among those presenting at a health-care technology showcase Oct. 26 at Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s summit in Nanaimo. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Entrepreneurs at Island summit showcase high-tech solutions for health-care issues

Brain activity tracking, Indigenous mental health, seniors’ care discussed at summit in Nanaimo

Nolan Beise, founder of Circl, shows off a headset used to measure brain activity. Beise was among those presenting at a health-care technology showcase Oct. 26 at Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s summit in Nanaimo. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
In this file photo, Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, on March 10, 2022. On Oct. 31, he announced a new payment model for family doctors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. announces long-awaited new payment model for family doctors to launch in 2023

New model promises compensation based on time spent, complexity of visits

In this file photo, Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, on March 10, 2022. On Oct. 31, he announced a new payment model for family doctors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The emergency sign of a Toronto hospital is photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The Canadian Paediatric Society says the strain children’s hospitals are seeing due to a resurgence of viral infections is likely to get worse in the months ahead and could spill over into already-struggling community hospitals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul

Local hospitals could face strain as early viral infections swamp pediatrics: CPS

Hospitals report an earlier than usual season of respiratory illnesses

The emergency sign of a Toronto hospital is photographed on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. The Canadian Paediatric Society says the strain children’s hospitals are seeing due to a resurgence of viral infections is likely to get worse in the months ahead and could spill over into already-struggling community hospitals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
The paramedics’ union is pushing the province for changes to address staffing shortages plaguing rural communities, said union president Troy Clifford. (Photo courtesy of Ambulance Paramedics of BC)

‘It’s a broken system,’ say emergency responders about B.C.’s rural paramedic shortages

Quadra Island had no local paramedics available for 11 days during the summer and fall

  • Oct 23, 2022
The paramedics’ union is pushing the province for changes to address staffing shortages plaguing rural communities, said union president Troy Clifford. (Photo courtesy of Ambulance Paramedics of BC)
Black Press Media file

North Island emergency rooms continue to face overnight closures

Island Health is working on recruitment and strategies to secure additional nursing coverage

Black Press Media file