Fraser Health

Pamela Garrity, 77, has been confined to a wheelchair since falling out of bed in late September, and relies on a Sarastand (right) to get in and out of bed, get on and off the toilet and do other things. (Eric J. Welsh/ The Progress)

Chilliwack senior felt ‘absolute despair’ after Fraser Health no-show

Confined to wheelchair, woman was twice left sitting in incontinence underwear for 20-plus hours

Pamela Garrity, 77, has been confined to a wheelchair since falling out of bed in late September, and relies on a Sarastand (right) to get in and out of bed, get on and off the toilet and do other things. (Eric J. Welsh/ The Progress)
New germ disinfection pods allow Fraser Health hospitals to disinfect equipment with UV light. (Fraser Health photo)

Robots using UV light to kill viruses and bacteria in Fraser Valley hospitals

Robots can disinfect rooms in as fast as 20 minutes and have done nearly 62,000 rooms in 21 months

  • Aug 29, 2022
New germ disinfection pods allow Fraser Health hospitals to disinfect equipment with UV light. (Fraser Health photo)
Randy “Elvis” Friskie, shown here perfoming in 2018, says he is on his deathbed on a cot in a hallway at Abbotsford Regional Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)

Elvis impersonator says he is on deathbed in hallway at a B.C. hospital

‘No dignity in it whatsoever,’ says Randy Friskie, who has liver disease

Randy “Elvis” Friskie, shown here perfoming in 2018, says he is on his deathbed on a cot in a hallway at Abbotsford Regional Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)
High heat is on the way, and there are ways to keep cool and safe, says Fraser Health. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

VIDEO: Know how to keep cool, help others, in the coming heat wave, says Fraser Health

With temperatures about to soar in the Vancouver and Fraser Valley area, there are ways to keep cool

High heat is on the way, and there are ways to keep cool and safe, says Fraser Health. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
A BCEHS re-enactment of paramedics attending an overdose. (BCHES)

New Fraser Health study looks at links between ER opioid prescriptions and overdoses

Counselling could help patients who are injured and at risk of overdose from opioids

A BCEHS re-enactment of paramedics attending an overdose. (BCHES)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaking at the May 13, 2022 opening of the new Primary Care Centre in Chilliwack. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Brand new B.C. primary care centre can’t find doctors to staff it

The clinic opened in May, but the province and Fraser Health can’t find people to work there

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaking at the May 13, 2022 opening of the new Primary Care Centre in Chilliwack. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
From left: SafePoint’s Hyeth Manlosa, Ian Fraser, and Megan White. After five years in operation, SafePoint staff have reversed 2,845 drug poisonings, according to Fraser Health. (Photo submitted)

B.C. safe consumption site marks five years of ‘truly saving lives’

SafePoint in Surrey has seen 300,000 visits from 3,533 people, with 2,845 drug poisonings reversed

From left: SafePoint’s Hyeth Manlosa, Ian Fraser, and Megan White. After five years in operation, SafePoint staff have reversed 2,845 drug poisonings, according to Fraser Health. (Photo submitted)
Dr. Steve Levasseur, retinal surgeon and department head of vitreoretinal surgery at Surrey Memorial Hospital, explains how B.C.’s first digitally assisted 3D visualization eye surgery technology works. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

With a ‘55-inch viewing system,’ eye surgery at B.C. hospital gets a 3D boost

The province’s busiest vitreoretinal team, Surrey Memorial surgeons perform roughly 2,500 surgeries a year for patients throughout B.C.

Dr. Steve Levasseur, retinal surgeon and department head of vitreoretinal surgery at Surrey Memorial Hospital, explains how B.C.’s first digitally assisted 3D visualization eye surgery technology works. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Staff at the Mission Maternity Clinic post a sign to the window announcing the closure. Patrick Penner / Mission Record

Fraser Valley maternity clinic closure a symptom of B.C.’s physician deficit

Unable to recruit new doctors, Mission clinic no longer accepting patients as of April 1

Staff at the Mission Maternity Clinic post a sign to the window announcing the closure. Patrick Penner / Mission Record
A protest of about 75 people gathered at Peace Arch Hospital Thursday to show the community’s frustration with a Fraser Health decision to temporarily close the maternity ward. The decision was reversed later Thursday. (Aaron Hinks photo)

Health authority reverses decision to close B.C. hospital maternity ward

Fraser Health had planned to close Peace Arch Hospital ward for 3 months, starting Jan. 28

A protest of about 75 people gathered at Peace Arch Hospital Thursday to show the community’s frustration with a Fraser Health decision to temporarily close the maternity ward. The decision was reversed later Thursday. (Aaron Hinks photo)
Expectant mother Jenny Bray said her carefully made birth plans are now up in the air, after Fraser Health announced on Friday that it will close Peace Arch Hospital’s maternity department for three months, beginning Jan. 28. The ministry of health said women will be diverted to Langley Memorial Hospital for delivery instead. (Aaron Hinks photo)

Fraser Health decision to close Peace Arch Hospital maternity widely criticized

Expectant mother, Jenny Bray, among many left to find alternative solution

Expectant mother Jenny Bray said her carefully made birth plans are now up in the air, after Fraser Health announced on Friday that it will close Peace Arch Hospital’s maternity department for three months, beginning Jan. 28. The ministry of health said women will be diverted to Langley Memorial Hospital for delivery instead. (Aaron Hinks photo)
Surrey Memorial Hospital emergency department entrance. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Fraser Health offers apology to woman who gave birth in Surrey Memorial Hospital lobby

Pawandeep Samra gave birth on her fourth visit to SMH, after being sent home three times earlier that day

Surrey Memorial Hospital emergency department entrance. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Chilliwack residents Gail and Rob Irving are puzzled why there isn’t a renal unit in the city, and with flooding cutting off Highway 1 access between Chilliwack and Abbotsford, Rob was flown west for treatment on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Eric J. Welsh/Chilliwack Progress)

Patients cut off from dialysis treatments being flown to Abbotsford for medical care

With highway access cut off, Rob Irving and more than 20 others are in a tough spot

Chilliwack residents Gail and Rob Irving are puzzled why there isn’t a renal unit in the city, and with flooding cutting off Highway 1 access between Chilliwack and Abbotsford, Rob was flown west for treatment on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Eric J. Welsh/Chilliwack Progress)
Chilliwack residents Gail and Rob Irving are puzzled why there isn’t a renal unit in the city, forcing Rob and others who need dialysis to travel several times a week to Abbotsford. (Eric J. Welsh/Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack dialysis patient questions lack of renal unit in growing city

Rob Irving has to drive to and from Abbotsford three times a week for exhausting dialysis treatments

Chilliwack residents Gail and Rob Irving are puzzled why there isn’t a renal unit in the city, forcing Rob and others who need dialysis to travel several times a week to Abbotsford. (Eric J. Welsh/Chilliwack Progress)
Fraser Health in mid-September declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House in South Surrey. (Google Streetview photo)

Extended quarantine ‘very grim’ for residents of B.C. retirement residence: daughter

Health authority procedures questioned after six-week COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House

Fraser Health in mid-September declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House in South Surrey. (Google Streetview photo)