Mental health system could do more to ensure people can access specialized services
Auditor General of British Columbia Carol Bellringer issued her latest audit May 17: Access to Adult Tertiary Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Bellringer's team looked at how B.C.'s health system manages access to the highest level of mental health and substance use services. They found pockets of good practice, but...
BIKE TO WORK. BIKE EVERYWHERE!
Kootenays - Calling all cyclists –new and experienced: Bike to Work Week 2016 is approaching! A provincial initiative taking place May 30 to June 5, 2016, Bike to Work Week encourages everyone to commit to commuting to work by bicycle for a week. According to event organizer Mike Kent, “We encourage everyone to join us. ...
BC Coroner releases fatal drug overdose statistics
The BC Coroners Service has posted the most recent statistics on illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. to its website. The total number of illicit drug overdose deaths in B.C. to April 30, 2016, is 256. This represents an increase of 88.2 per cent from the 136 deaths that occurred in the same period last year. Fentanyl was...
Council to contemplate ban on smoking in city parks
A Castlegar city councillor is contending that changing social mores and attitudes around smoking are helping to pave the way for a potential new bylaw banning smoking in all city parks. Councillor Florio Vassilakakis said he thinks there is an appetite for this kind of bylaw. “If you had asked me 20 or 25 years ago, I would...
Whooping Cough Still a Threat: IHA says 'Don't Wait -- Vaccinate'
Interior Health is reminding parents and caregivers to make sure their children’s immunizations are up to date. This timely reminder comes as pertussis cases continue to occur in several Interior Health communities. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a serious infection of the lungs and throat. Pertussis can affect...
Kootenay Lake Hospital chimes celebrate new life
The next time you hear gentle wind chimes ringing through the halls of Kootenay Lake Hospital, it means a new life has entered the community. Electronic Birth Chimes have been installed in labour and delivery at KLH. This allows parents of newborns to announce their new arrival over the hospital paging system. The purpose of...
Telehealth a Game Changer for Our Region?
Have you ever had to drive to Trail, Nelson or farther to see a physician specialist? Would you be interested in trying other options that wouldn’t require you to travel? If the answer is yes, doctors would like to hear from you. Kootenay Boundary residents who have seen specialists in the last two years are being asked to...
Provincial health officer declares public health emergency due to rise in overdoses
A significant increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths has prompted provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall to declare a public health emergency. This is the first time the provincial health officer has served notice under the Public Health Act to exercise emergency powers. B.C. is the first province to take this...
First detection of deadly bat disease on West Coast concerns BC
A report confirmed last month by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that White-Nose Syndrome had been detected on a dead bat near Seattle is very worrisome for the health of bat populations in British Columbia said Juliet Craig, Coordinator of the Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP) and BC Community Bat Program....
Local man speaks out about Parkinson's Disease and upcoming fundraiser
April is Parkinson's Awareness month. I would like share my story with you to hopefully help bring a better understanding of what it is like to have Parkinson's Disease. In April or May of 2013, I noticed a couple of things with my left hand/arm which didn't seem normal. I noticed my left arm didn't swing normal when I walked....
