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)

Tentative deal reached with B.C. long-term care workers

7 Good Samaritan Canada sites include Vernon, Salmon Arm and Penticton

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. Premier David Eby, second from left, speaks to media during the closing news conference at the Council of the Federation Canadian premiers meeting at The Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The impact of carbon taxes on mounting cost-of-living pressures across Canada is slated to take centre stage at this week’s meeting of the country’s 13 premiers and territorial leaders in Halifax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Premiers to focus on energy costs, health care at Halifax meeting of leaders

Rising cost of living, carbon pricing among topics to be discussed

B.C. Premier David Eby, second from left, speaks to media during the closing news conference at the Council of the Federation Canadian premiers meeting at The Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The impact of carbon taxes on mounting cost-of-living pressures across Canada is slated to take centre stage at this week’s meeting of the country’s 13 premiers and territorial leaders in Halifax. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The AccessBC campaign for free prescription contraceptives started in Saanich in 2017. Six years later the motion passed. (Courtesy of AccessBC)

Grassroots group celebrates campaign that gave B.C. free contraception

A few friends complaining about expensive birth control turned into a provincial motion

The AccessBC campaign for free prescription contraceptives started in Saanich in 2017. Six years later the motion passed. (Courtesy of AccessBC)
Sara Johnston was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2021. Here, she celebrates the completion of her eighth and final round of chemotherapy. (Photo courtesy of Sara Johnston)

Diagnosed at 39, B.C. breast cancer survivor pushes for lower screening age

Had she waited until she was 40, Sara Johnston’s cancer likely would have been Stage 4

Sara Johnston was 39 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2021. Here, she celebrates the completion of her eighth and final round of chemotherapy. (Photo courtesy of Sara Johnston)
Premier David Eby said his government has “got a lot more work to do” in rural health care during a tour of the South Okanagan, Similkameen and Boundary regions.

B.C. premier tours southern Interior in bid to deepen rural connections

Transportation, health, and transportation to health top agenda as Eby reaches outside big centres

Premier David Eby said his government has “got a lot more work to do” in rural health care during a tour of the South Okanagan, Similkameen and Boundary regions.
Hospital Employee’s Union members at two Good Samaritan Canada facilities in B.C., including Pioneer Lodge in Salmon Arm, will be taking part in a six-hour walkout on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The job action is in response to contract negotiations that the union says have been ongoing for the past two years. (Health Care Workers of Good Samaritan/Facebook photo)

One-day walkout planned for Salmon Arm, Delta long-term care facilities

Good Samaritan Canada says it will ensure essential care, services are delivered during strike

  • Oct 20, 2023
Hospital Employee’s Union members at two Good Samaritan Canada facilities in B.C., including Pioneer Lodge in Salmon Arm, will be taking part in a six-hour walkout on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. The job action is in response to contract negotiations that the union says have been ongoing for the past two years. (Health Care Workers of Good Samaritan/Facebook photo)
Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. In B.C., a September 2023 survey of health care assistants shows half of them are considering quitting in the next two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Half of B.C.’s care aides say they’ll likely quit amid shortages: survey

Close to 1,500 care aide job vacancies listed in B.C. as of the end of June, according to StatsCan

Health-care workers talk with a man in a COVID-19 infected ward at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. In B.C., a September 2023 survey of health care assistants shows half of them are considering quitting in the next two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
B.C. is launching a 15-bed pilot project to provide people with addictions support during and after pregnancy. The project was announced Oct. 11 by Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions (centre right), and Darci Skiber, senior director of the Mental Health and Substance Use Programs and Initiatives with the BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre (centre left). (Credit: X/@JM_Whiteside)

B.C. pilots housing project for pregnant people struggling with addiction

15 beds to be available out of supportive housing sites in Vancouver, Burnaby and Victoria

B.C. is launching a 15-bed pilot project to provide people with addictions support during and after pregnancy. The project was announced Oct. 11 by Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions (centre right), and Darci Skiber, senior director of the Mental Health and Substance Use Programs and Initiatives with the BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre (centre left). (Credit: X/@JM_Whiteside)
Sharmen Lee, dean of the Faculty of Health at KPU, in a new training ward at the Langley campus with simulated patients on Tuesday, Oct. 10. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: New training ward will mean more nurses graduating from Langley university

Ribbon-cutting held Tuesday

Sharmen Lee, dean of the Faculty of Health at KPU, in a new training ward at the Langley campus with simulated patients on Tuesday, Oct. 10. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey, here seen in May, Tuesday announced $6.6 million to improve clinical trial capacities in British Columbia. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Blockbuster drugs’ on the horizon thanks to new money from BC government

Jobs minister says additional funds for clinic trials will grow B.C.’s life-science sector

Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey, here seen in May, Tuesday announced $6.6 million to improve clinical trial capacities in British Columbia. (Black Press Media file photo)
Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

‘Disturbing’ sign at Williams Lake ER sparks debate in legislature, investigation

Premier David Eby says ER never closed as IH investigates sources of unauthorized closure notice

Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
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

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)
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

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

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)
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)