Healthcare

A year-one-long agreement between Victoria and Ottawa funding home and community care, as well as services for mental health and addiction will see B.C. received $164 million with an extension in the offering. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C., federal government strike deal around home and community care

B.C. gets $164M injection this year, hopes to extend agreement another 4 years

A year-one-long agreement between Victoria and Ottawa funding home and community care, as well as services for mental health and addiction will see B.C. received $164 million with an extension in the offering. (Black Press Media file photo)
Colwood Coun. Ian Ward with his family. His son Liam (second from right) is set to lose his family doctor on June 30. (Courtesy of Ian Ward)

B.C. politician ‘pretty pessimistic’ after son loses family doctor to retirement

Ian Ward’s son is set to lose his family doctor, two years after his mother went through the same

Colwood Coun. Ian Ward with his family. His son Liam (second from right) is set to lose his family doctor on June 30. (Courtesy of Ian Ward)
Ryan Plouffe, top right, and his family moved to Williams Lake and love it, but find the access to health care challenging. (Photo submitted)

Williams Lake man questions ‘stark contrast’ in health care across B.C.’s Interior Health

Ryan Plouffe sent a written complaint to Interior Health

Ryan Plouffe, top right, and his family moved to Williams Lake and love it, but find the access to health care challenging. (Photo submitted)
A health-care worker crosses a covered overhead walkway at a hospital in Montreal, Tuesday, August 17, 2021. In B.C., the human rights commissioner is opposing a provincial decision to end mask mandates in health-care settings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Human rights commissioner opposes end of mask mandate in B.C. health-care settings

Commissioner says move disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations

A health-care worker crosses a covered overhead walkway at a hospital in Montreal, Tuesday, August 17, 2021. In B.C., the human rights commissioner is opposing a provincial decision to end mask mandates in health-care settings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The Liberal government’s decision to expand medical assistance in dying to people with mental illness as a sole underlying condition has sparked a wide range of reaction in Canada. Supporters argue the move will give autonomy and dignity to people who have exhausted all other treatment options. A patient has his hand held in a hospital, in Minneapolis, Monday, May 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS-David Joles-Star Tribune via AP

‘A hell of a choice’: Patients left frustrated amid delays to access assisted dying

Eligibility for those with a mental disorder delayed once again

The Liberal government’s decision to expand medical assistance in dying to people with mental illness as a sole underlying condition has sparked a wide range of reaction in Canada. Supporters argue the move will give autonomy and dignity to people who have exhausted all other treatment options. A patient has his hand held in a hospital, in Minneapolis, Monday, May 3, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS-David Joles-Star Tribune via AP
Cranbrook resident Sue Selby survived two rounds of breast cancer thanks to regular mammograms, which detected the disease early before it spread (photo courtesy of Sue Selby).

Two-time cancer survivor shares her journey to recovery for Daffodil Month

Regular mammograms caught Sue Selby’s cancer before it spread

Cranbrook resident Sue Selby survived two rounds of breast cancer thanks to regular mammograms, which detected the disease early before it spread (photo courtesy of Sue Selby).
The entrance to the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver is pictured Tuesday, April 21, 2020. More than 51,000 registered, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses in British Columbia have reached a tentative contract with the provincial government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. nurses reach tentative labour agreement with provincial government

Contract impacts more than 21,000 nurses

The entrance to the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver is pictured Tuesday, April 21, 2020. More than 51,000 registered, psychiatric and licensed practical nurses in British Columbia have reached a tentative contract with the provincial government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
L-R: Regional District Hospital Board Chair Loyal Wooldridge, Interior Health Authority President and CEO Susan Brown, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield, Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. (Gary Barnes/Capital News)

Minister Dix announces urgent care centre coming to Kelowna

The new centre will open in the fall at 110 Highway 33

L-R: Regional District Hospital Board Chair Loyal Wooldridge, Interior Health Authority President and CEO Susan Brown, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield, Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. (Gary Barnes/Capital News)
A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Quebec City. In B.C., pharmacist Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh is serving a one month suspension for faking his COVID vaccine records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

B.C. pharmacist suspended for faking his own COVID vaccine records

Vaccination became regulatory college requirement in October 2021

A shelf of drugs at a pharmacy Thursday, March 8, 2012 in Quebec City. In B.C., pharmacist Aftabahmed Abdullatif Shaikh is serving a one month suspension for faking his COVID vaccine records. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he’d implement a countrywide standardized test for nurses and doctors, making it easier for them to switch provinces or enter Canada from other countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Poilievre calls for testing that would allow doctors, nurses to work across Canada

Conservative leader says he’d implement a countrywide standardized test

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he’d implement a countrywide standardized test for nurses and doctors, making it easier for them to switch provinces or enter Canada from other countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s 2022 Citizen of the Year. Sparrow, an ER doctor at Kootenay Lake Hospital, also volunteers his time responding to emergency calls after founding the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘If I can go, I go’: Nelson ER doctor saves lives in his spare time

Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s Citizen of the Year

Dr. Nicholas Sparrow is Nelson’s 2022 Citizen of the Year. Sparrow, an ER doctor at Kootenay Lake Hospital, also volunteers his time responding to emergency calls after founding the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association. Photo: Tyler Harper
A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson

‘Really worrisome’: Survey suggests some Alberta doctors have anti-Indigenous biases

8% of respondents said they felt unfavourable towards Indigenous patients

A doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck as he tends to patients in his office in Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Two University of Calgary researchers weren’t surprised when their survey of Alberta doctors showed biases against Indigenous patients, but they were shocked by some of the comments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Roberson
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby announced an agreement in principle on a 10-year health care funding deal. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Trudeau, Eby announce $27 billion B.C. health care deal

The PM and premier in Langley to announce 10-year pact

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby announced an agreement in principle on a 10-year health care funding deal. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror

‘Quite remarkable’: B.C. commits close to $1 billion for mental health, addictions

Investment standout piece from $6.4-billion health-care spending promise

A new 16-bed mental health evaluation and treatment facility has three double- and 10 single-bed rooms. Heidi Sanders, the Mirror
B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)

B.C. to become 1st in Canada to give free prescription contraception by spring

Change to coincide with pharmacists gaining power to prescribe

B.C. is making prescription contraception free for everyone under MSP beginning April 1. (AccessBC)
Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley

233 people – living and dead – donated organs in B.C. in 2022

527 people were still waiting for a life-saving transplant at the end of the year

Surgical instruments are used during an organ transplant surgery at a hospital in Washington on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Molly Riley
Olena Boiko and her husband Volodymyr take their 10-month-old son Yaroslav for a walk in the city centre of Lviv, Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Yaroslav was born in the bomb shelter of the hospital in Lviv a few months after the Russian invasion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Osman

Birth in bomb shelters: Ukrainian midwives look to Canada for training

Midwives aren’t licensed to do home births in Ukraine, but the war is forcing them to

Olena Boiko and her husband Volodymyr take their 10-month-old son Yaroslav for a walk in the city centre of Lviv, Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Yaroslav was born in the bomb shelter of the hospital in Lviv a few months after the Russian invasion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Osman
The number of training spots for midwives at UBC will nearly double, the province announced Friday, going from20 to 48. (Black Press Media file photo)

Training spots for midwives in B.C. to nearly double amid provincial funding

The provincial government announced additional funding for B.C.’s only midwifery program at UBC

The number of training spots for midwives at UBC will nearly double, the province announced Friday, going from20 to 48. (Black Press Media file photo)
Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi. (BC Green Party handout photo)

Why a top B.C. heart surgeon quit for politics

‘I didn’t in good conscience think we were providing the best possible care to our patients anymore’

  • Feb 13, 2023
Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi. (BC Green Party handout photo)
A view of the exterior of the emergency department at the Arrow Lakes Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)

Concerns raised after man dies on B.C. hospital doorstep

Nakusp man’s family drove him to the hospital after an ambulance took too long to arrive

  • Feb 13, 2023
A view of the exterior of the emergency department at the Arrow Lakes Hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)