Healthcare

Minister of Health Adrian Dix speaks during a news conference to announce Canada’s first self-screening cervical cancer plan, with at-home tests in Vancouver, B.C., on January 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

B.C.’s first health centre catering to francophones to open in the fall

More than 80,000 provincial residents named French as their mother tongue as of 2021

 

Mitchell Dyck, de Chilliwack, en Colombie-Britannique, que l’on voit sur cette photo, faisait partie des patients qui n’ont pas pu se rendre à l’hôpital pour une dialyse vitale lors des inondations de 2021 qui ont emporté les autoroutes et ont incité les professionnels de la santé à réfléchir à la meilleure façon de coordonner les soins vitaux lors de catastrophes liées au changement climatique. LA PRESSE CANADIENNE/Photo fournie

Climate change disasters require plans for dialysis patients, experts say

When flooding hit B.C. in 2021, patients had to be flown by helicopter to receive regular treatment

 

A person draws out Moderna vaccine during a drive through COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Kingston, Ont., on Sunday Jan. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

B.C. should review vaccination order for remote health-care workers: judge

Ban may not be justifiable for unvaccinated workers who don’t interact with patients, court says

 

(Black Press media file photo)

FORSYTH: The long wait is over and I finally have a family doctor

COLUMN: How long have you waited for a family physician?

(Black Press media file photo)
Kristie Mar, shown in a handout photo, started caring for her ill mother at 16 and is hoping a national caregiver strategy will recognize those who often put their own lives on hold to look after their loved ones. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Canada’s caregivers need respite, home support and compensation: report

National strategy must recognize caregivers as ‘backbone’ of society: centre

Kristie Mar, shown in a handout photo, started caring for her ill mother at 16 and is hoping a national caregiver strategy will recognize those who often put their own lives on hold to look after their loved ones. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Wyn Parry died on February 19, 2024, four days after he was released from Cariboo Memorial Hospital. Family is speaking out about the care he received in his final stay at the facility. (Photo submitted)

Family calls for better care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital

The wife and daughter of a man who spent three weeks in hospital say they worry for others

Wyn Parry died on February 19, 2024, four days after he was released from Cariboo Memorial Hospital. Family is speaking out about the care he received in his final stay at the facility. (Photo submitted)
FILE - Containers of Zyn, a Phillip Morris smokeless nicotine pouch, are displayed for sale among other nicotine and tobacco products at a newsstand Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in New York. The product has been making big headlines, sparking debate about whether new nicotine-based alternatives intended for adults may be catching on with underage teens and adolescents. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

What to know about Zyn, the tiny nicotine pouch that’s sparked a big health debate

A tiny Philip Morris product called Zyn has been making big headlines,…

FILE - Containers of Zyn, a Phillip Morris smokeless nicotine pouch, are displayed for sale among other nicotine and tobacco products at a newsstand Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in New York. The product has been making big headlines, sparking debate about whether new nicotine-based alternatives intended for adults may be catching on with underage teens and adolescents. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Liver donor Letecia Hayes (left), two-time liver recipient Matt Scaife (centre), and kidney donor Stacy Rodriguez at BC Cancer Kelowna spreading the word for National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

After 2 liver transplants Kelowna resident urges living organ donations

B.C. broke records for organ donation in 2023

  • Apr 16, 2024
Liver donor Letecia Hayes (left), two-time liver recipient Matt Scaife (centre), and kidney donor Stacy Rodriguez at BC Cancer Kelowna spreading the word for National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
Health Minister Adrian Dix officially launched the Hospital at Home program in Vancouver. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel)

‘There is no place like home’ Hospital at Home program expands to Vancouver

Health Minister says program already improving quality of care for eligible patients elsewhere

Health Minister Adrian Dix officially launched the Hospital at Home program in Vancouver. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel)
A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope in her doctor’s office in Stuttgart, Germany, Monday, April 28, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thomas Kienzle

B.C. hopes to match 300,000 people with doctors using new online platform

Province launching online system April 17 to allow easier connection between patients and providers

A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope in her doctor’s office in Stuttgart, Germany, Monday, April 28, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Thomas Kienzle
Healthcare teams at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH) and Penticton Heath Centre receiving the Baby-Friendly Initiative designation inside the PRH on Friday, April 5. (Logan Lockhart/Western News)

‘Epic milestone’: Penticton hospital gets rare baby-friendly designation

Local healthcare team is one of 29 in Canada to receive the international recognition

Healthcare teams at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH) and Penticton Heath Centre receiving the Baby-Friendly Initiative designation inside the PRH on Friday, April 5. (Logan Lockhart/Western News)
Gary Johal traveled to Princeton Saturday, March 23, to meet Christine Unrau. Johal will pay for Unrau’s post-operative expenses that will allow her to receive a double lung transplant. Photo Andrea DeMeer

Penticton entrepreneur hailed as ‘an angel on earth’

Businessman makes double lung transplant possible for Princeton woman

Gary Johal traveled to Princeton Saturday, March 23, to meet Christine Unrau. Johal will pay for Unrau’s post-operative expenses that will allow her to receive a double lung transplant. Photo Andrea DeMeer
Medical tools are pictured in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary on Friday, July 14, 2023. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced on March 10, 2024 that the province is expanding access to a blood cancer treatment. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Access to new blood cancer treatment expanded in B.C.

CAR-T therapy previously only available through clinical trial, now offered in several hospitals

Medical tools are pictured in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary on Friday, July 14, 2023. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced on March 10, 2024 that the province is expanding access to a blood cancer treatment. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
An Interior Health nurse administers a vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. A document containing personal informatio nof more than 20,000 IH employees was recovered by the RCMP, IH said Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press)

Stolen information of over 20k Interior Health employees recovered by RCMP

Anyone who worked for IH from 2003 and 2009 is encouraged to make contact

An Interior Health nurse administers a vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. A document containing personal informatio nof more than 20,000 IH employees was recovered by the RCMP, IH said Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press)
A measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is shown on a countertop at a pediatric clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. on Feb. 6, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Eric Risberg

1st case of measles reported in B.C. over weekend: BCCDC

Instance marks first instance of virus in the province since 2019, disease control centre says

A measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is shown on a countertop at a pediatric clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. on Feb. 6, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Eric Risberg
Health Minister Adrian Dix, here seen at an announcement for a new hospital in Surrey B.C. on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, said new six minimum nurse-to-patient ratios will improve quality of care for patients and working environments for nurses. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns)

Nurse-to-patient ratios unveiled as B.C. pumps $237M into nurse incentives

Health Minister Adrian Dix says 1st-in-Canada ratios will improve care, reduce burnout

Health Minister Adrian Dix, here seen at an announcement for a new hospital in Surrey B.C. on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, said new six minimum nurse-to-patient ratios will improve quality of care for patients and working environments for nurses. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns)
A ambulance drives past the emergency entrance of Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, April 9, 2021. B.C.’s Budget 2024 looks to expand on health-care services and new infrastructure over the next three years, but there is nothing specific to address ongoing emergency room closures throughout the province or supports for paramedics. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. Budget 2024: focused on new health-care infrastructure, not workers

Nurses want more investment in workers as B.C. commits $13B to facilities, $2B to service expansion

A ambulance drives past the emergency entrance of Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, April 9, 2021. B.C.’s Budget 2024 looks to expand on health-care services and new infrastructure over the next three years, but there is nothing specific to address ongoing emergency room closures throughout the province or supports for paramedics. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2013 file photo, an in vitro fertilization embryologist works on a petri dish at a fertility clinic in London. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy announced in B.C.’s Budget 2024 that the province will be rolling out an in-vitro fertilization treatment program, beginning in April 2025. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)

B.C. Budget 2024: NDP promises free cycle of in-vitro fertilization

The next year will be spent creating program, which won’t launch until April of 2025

FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2013 file photo, an in vitro fertilization embryologist works on a petri dish at a fertility clinic in London. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy announced in B.C.’s Budget 2024 that the province will be rolling out an in-vitro fertilization treatment program, beginning in April 2025. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)
The report states Kelowna had an average wait time of 104 minutes in 2023, behind Victoria (107 minutes) and North Vancouver (187 minutes). (Black Press media file photo)

B.C. had highest walk-in clinic wait times in Canada in 2023: Report

North Vancouver had the longest average wait times in the province at 187 minutes

The report states Kelowna had an average wait time of 104 minutes in 2023, behind Victoria (107 minutes) and North Vancouver (187 minutes). (Black Press media file photo)
City of Merritt Mayor Michael Goetz wants financial credit for last year’s ER closures at Nicola Valley Hospital. (Photo Courtesy City of Merritt)

Merritt wants a refund for multiple hospital ER closures in 2023

Mayor Michael Goetz says his community should not ask to be charged for services it did not receive

City of Merritt Mayor Michael Goetz wants financial credit for last year’s ER closures at Nicola Valley Hospital. (Photo Courtesy City of Merritt)