Protecting loved ones and staying healthy over the holidays
The festive season is a time of celebrating with loved ones. Unfortunately, holiday mingling brings together people AND germs. At this time of year it is not unusual for health facilities to experience outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness (GI) and respiratory infections. Both are highly contagious and common in the community...
Afraid of that new parking lot?
There are some new signs beside the road leading to the new parking lot up at Strawberry Pass, alerting drivers not to block it. The signs are not professional -- they were made by volunteers, out of donated scrap material, hand-lettered with a felt pen, and stuck into the snowbanks on Saturday morning, November 18th....
Transforming health care in the Boundary
When the sliding door of Walter Gambles’ van slammed closed and left a toonie-sized gash in his arm, the 82 year-old resident of Christina Lake figured he was destined for a trip to the emergency department in Grand Forks. On a whim, Gambles decided he’d check in at the Christina Lake Medical Clinic where he met with new...
Column: time to talk about universal pharmacare
Universal pharmacare is a hot topic on Parliament Hill these days. The concept is simple—a single program that would ensure that all Canadians had free access to prescription drugs. Canada is the only country in the world with universal health care that doesn’t include the cost of drugs in its coverage. And that doesn’t...
Telehealth project improves rural access to mental health and substance use services
To ensure individuals have access to the mental health and substance use (MHSU) services they need, no matter where they live, Interior Health is expanding access to a rural telehealth pilot project. “Unless you’ve struggled with a mental illness, it is nearly impossible to understand the barriers and stigma that people face...
Fentanyl detected in 81% of illicit drug deaths in B.C. in 2017
Fentanyl has been detected in more than four of every five illicit-drug overdose deaths in British Columbia through the first seven months of 2017, according to the latest statistics from the BC Coroners Service. From January through July 2017, 706 of the 876 suspected illicit drug deaths had fentanyl detected, representing...
Labour Day Message —We have a lot to celebrate
For the first time in 16 years, B.C. workers have much to celebrate on Labour Day. Both the B.C. NDP and the B.C. Green Party campaigned for a government that would make life more affordable, fix the services people count on, create jobs, act on climate change, and build a sustainable economy that works for everyone. Now,...
West Nile virus risk increases as summer heats up
As summer temperatures increase, so does the risk of West Nile virus. The risk of getting West Nile virus is highest from the end of July through August. There are some important measures people can take to reduce their risk of infection. West Nile virus is a disease that is spread from infected corvid birds (crows, ravens,...
BC Nurses’ Union calls for more treatment options as province-wide opioid overdose deaths soar
Front-line workers demand government provide more treatment programs as crisis shows no signs of slowing down Sara Bates has worked as an outreach nurse in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for 11 years and says it’s been extremely difficult to watch as the opioid crisis takes a critical toll on the community she calls her office....
Last day of laundry operations in Nelson — September 14
Time is running out laundry employees at Kootenay Lake Hospital after Interior Health announced the new private company handling work will begin operation for the Nelson facility as of September 14. Alan Davies, support services director for Interior Health, recently made the announcement. “Given the magnitude of the change,...
