The BC Ombudsperson has identified a serious lack of progress by the Ministry of Children and Family Development on a 2021 Ombudsperson report with troubling findings about separate confinement of youth in custody centres. “The ministry’s inaction continues to expose vulnerable youth in its care to the risk of significant harm from separate confinement, especially […]

Patients looking for a family physician or a nurse practitioner will be better supported, as the Province provides an update on the work already underway and introduces new digital tools for providers to improve and speed up the connection process. “Last year we made a commitment to better connect people with primary care providers, and […]

A news media website in Kelowna is reporting that a leak that was spilling millions of litres of sewage into Kootenay River has been stopped. The KelownaNow story said in the Ministry of Environment and Climate and Change confirmed the sewage leak has been “stopped” after divers spent Tuesday and Wednesday examining the three-kilometre pipe […]

In a media release Tuesday, Interior Heath issued a DRUG ALERT for the Grand Forks region after several samples of Cocaine were found to contain fentanyl. Interior Health urges users to now test cocaine before using adding that a fentanyl testing strip can determine if there is fentanyl in drugs. “Please ensure your clients are […]

B.C.’s auditor general has found that two provincial harm reduction programs that work to reduce toxic drug-related deaths and injuries weren’t effectively implemented by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and the Ministry of Health. The two ministries lead B.C.’s response to the toxic drug emergency, focusing on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. […]

The Province is taking several early steps to prepare for the wildfire and drought season, including working proactively with local governments and First Nations to help keep people and communities safe and informed. “We’re taking action earlier than ever and preparations for this year’s wildfire season are already well underway,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of […]

A leading voice for conservation in southeastern British Columbia said a report shows that the partial clean-up cost of water pollution from coal mines in the East Kootenay will be substantial. A new report commissioned by Wildsight, a non-profit charity that protects biodiversity and encourages sustainable communities in Canada’s Columbia and Rocky Mountain regions, has […]

Interior Health (IH) is asking individuals who worked at IH from 2003 to 2009 to contact a toll-free number to determine if their personal information is contained in a document that has been recovered in an RCMP investigation. In January, the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP informed IH about a document discovered during an investigation that contained […]

New Democrat MLA Katrine Conroy says more young people will have better access to vital health care services, including primary care, counselling, early intervention, prevention, and addictions supports closer to home with a new Foundry centre on the way to the West Kootenays. The exact location will be determined through a community and youth engagement […]

In a statement Tuesday, president and CEO Susan Brown said Interior Health is mourning the loss of Interior Health Board Chair Dr. Doug Cochrane. Brown said as Chair of Interior Health Board of Directors, Dr. Cochrane demonstrated a deep commitment to continuous improvement of patient care, quality and safety knowing it would lead to improved […]