BC Health

The Barriere BC Ambulance Services station. (Jill Hayward/News Staff)

8-month-old baby dies in B.C. Interior town while waiting for ambulance

Mayor calling for action by province to restore ambulance service to small communities

 

Multiple BC residents have been forced to wait over an hour for an ambulance in the past year due to paramedic shortages. (The News)

Lower Mainland paramedics warn ambulance service critically understaffed

On Aug. 20 there were no ambulances staffed in Maple Ridge

 

Taryn Lim, 34 months old, suffered a broken leg and is missing a couple of teeth after she fell from a third-storey window in Langley on Monday, Aug. 8. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)

Toddler’s fall from third-storey window should be a warning to other parents, father says

Langley’s Taryn Lim has a broken leg, but her parents worried it could have been much worse

 

Protesters gather outside the Ministry of Health Wednesday (Aug. 10) afternoon, calling on the provincial government to address the family doctor shortage. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Demonstrators in Victoria call for province to address B.C.’s family doctor shortage

People with and without family physicians converge on Health Ministry office

Protesters gather outside the Ministry of Health Wednesday (Aug. 10) afternoon, calling on the provincial government to address the family doctor shortage. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
B.C. Premier John Horgan pauses after announcing he will not run in the next provincial election during a news conference in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. A group representing emergency room doctors across the country has a message for Canada’s premiers: come up with a co-ordinated plan to prevent their workplaces from being closed due to staffing shortages that are creating an unprecedented crisis in health care. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa’s share of health-care funding to be top concern at premiers’ meeting in B.C.

Premiers calling for feds to increase their share of spending from 22 to 35 per cent

B.C. Premier John Horgan pauses after announcing he will not run in the next provincial election during a news conference in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. A group representing emergency room doctors across the country has a message for Canada’s premiers: come up with a co-ordinated plan to prevent their workplaces from being closed due to staffing shortages that are creating an unprecedented crisis in health care. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic in Nelson used to be one of two walk-in clinics in the West Kootenay. But the family doctor shortage in B.C. has meant the clinic can no longer offer walk-in appointments. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘We have no other health-care options’: Nelson walk-in clinics struggling during family doctor shortage

In the West Kootenay, the only two walk-in clinics can’t keep up with demand

Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic in Nelson used to be one of two walk-in clinics in the West Kootenay. But the family doctor shortage in B.C. has meant the clinic can no longer offer walk-in appointments. Photo: Tyler Harper
Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Submitted Photo)

PODCAST: Dr. Bonnie Henry discusses COVID-19 and what’s next for B.C.

TODAY IN B.C.: One-on-one chat with provincial health officer

Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Submitted Photo)
Matthew and Kari Atkins have been paying $1,200 a month to treat Kari’s metastatic breast cancer for the last several months. (Submitted photo)

B.C. couple left to foot $1,200-a-month cancer treatment bill due to ‘funding loophole’

Kari and Matthew Atkins hope the government will offer funding for people in their situation

Matthew and Kari Atkins have been paying $1,200 a month to treat Kari’s metastatic breast cancer for the last several months. (Submitted photo)
This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Portuguese health authorities confirmed five cases of monkeypox in young men, marking an unusual outbreak in Europe of a disease typically limited to Africa. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)

UPDATE: No monkeypox currently in B.C., officials say

The BCCDC said after investigation the ‘possible cases’ were determined not to be monkeypox

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Portuguese health authorities confirmed five cases of monkeypox in young men, marking an unusual outbreak in Europe of a disease typically limited to Africa. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)
Dr. Bonnie Henry visits with Bonnie and Henry, BC and Alberta Guide Dogs in training, at the Ministry of Health offices in Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

VIDEO: B.C.’s Dr. Bonnie Henry meets Bonnie and Henry

Future working dogs check in with namesake Dr. Bonnie Henry in Victoria

Dr. Bonnie Henry visits with Bonnie and Henry, BC and Alberta Guide Dogs in training, at the Ministry of Health offices in Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
(Black Press file photo)

1-in-3 B.C. health-care workers plan to quit within the next 2 years: poll

Hospital Employees’ Union survey finds high levels of fatigue, burnout, financial stress

(Black Press file photo)
Assisted-suicide supporters wait outside the B.C. Court of Appeal before the court overturned a lower court ruling that said Canada's assisted-suicide ban violated the charter rights of gravely ill Canadians, in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday October 10, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Opposition mounts to forced transfers of medically assisted death seekers in B.C.

Transfers happen when a patient is treated in a facility that forbids medical assistance in dying

Assisted-suicide supporters wait outside the B.C. Court of Appeal before the court overturned a lower court ruling that said Canada's assisted-suicide ban violated the charter rights of gravely ill Canadians, in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday October 10, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
As B.C. nears two years since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed, Health Minister Adrian Dix in Vancouver and Dr. Bonnie Henry in Victoria update pandemic conditions, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. health officials expected to announce plan for easing some COVID-19 restrictions

Current provincial health orders scheduled to expire Wednesday

As B.C. nears two years since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed, Health Minister Adrian Dix in Vancouver and Dr. Bonnie Henry in Victoria update pandemic conditions, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
Newly trained perfusionist Kris Hromadnik working during a coronary arterial bypass case. (Supplied by Roger Stanzel)

Canada bleeding heart-and-lung surgery technicians to better-paying U.S.

Demand for perfusionists skyrockets during pandemic, with shortages in hospitals across the country

Newly trained perfusionist Kris Hromadnik working during a coronary arterial bypass case. (Supplied by Roger Stanzel)
The B.C. government has reported 405 new cases of COVID-19 in its Dec. 3 update. Pictured here, a traveller exiting the COVID-19 testing centre for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Dec. 2. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. reports 405 new cases of COVID-19

Six new deaths from COVID-19, says ministry

The B.C. government has reported 405 new cases of COVID-19 in its Dec. 3 update. Pictured here, a traveller exiting the COVID-19 testing centre for arriving international passengers at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Dec. 2. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
There is no truth to rumours about stillbirths at Lions Gate Hospital being related to mothers being vaccinated against COVID-19, states Vancouver Coastal Health. (Black Press Media file)

B.C. health authority dispels stillbirth COVID vaccination rumours at North Van hospital

Vancouver Coastal Health says no evidence of added risk of early pregnancy loss after vaccination

There is no truth to rumours about stillbirths at Lions Gate Hospital being related to mothers being vaccinated against COVID-19, states Vancouver Coastal Health. (Black Press Media file)
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)
A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre at the Angela James Arena, in Toronto, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Auditor General Karen Horgan assesses Canada’s efforts to procure medical equipment in the midst of a global pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

COVID-related medical cost coverage extended for B.C. residents without MSP

New residents must undergo a three-month wait period before becoming eligible for MSP

A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre at the Angela James Arena, in Toronto, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Auditor General Karen Horgan assesses Canada’s efforts to procure medical equipment in the midst of a global pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Harry Charles (Chuck) Blakey, 72, died in his Parksville home while his family waited on hold after calling 911 for an ambulance dispatch. (Barbara Blakey photo)

B.C. man, 72, dies in home while family waits on hold with 911 dispatch

Daughter blames ‘governmental system that has allowed this to happen’

Harry Charles (Chuck) Blakey, 72, died in his Parksville home while his family waited on hold after calling 911 for an ambulance dispatch. (Barbara Blakey photo)
The province is embarking on what it calls “the largest hiring push in B.C.’s history” for paramedics in rural and remote locations. (File - Black Press Media)

Hundreds of new B.C. paramedic positions announced as 24 stations go to full-time staffing

Health minister Adrian Dix says funding will better support health care workers

The province is embarking on what it calls “the largest hiring push in B.C.’s history” for paramedics in rural and remote locations. (File - Black Press Media)
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