The Province and public-health officials are taking actions to continue protecting people, communities and the health-care system this fall and are encouraging people in B.C. aged six months and older to get their COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. “An increase in hospital visits with the fall respiratory illness season requires measures to ensure our acute care […]

Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service report on illicit drug toxicity deaths in August: “Today’s BC Coroners Service report for August 2023 tells a story we have heard too often. We are not just talking about numbers, we are talking about people. We’ve […]

The BC SPCA said officials seized 30 Dachshund dogs from an Okanagan breeder, ranging in age from four months to five years of age. The BC SPCA said the dogs were found to have dental disease, overgrown nails, exposure to high ammonia levels and were living in unsanitary conditions and were kept in small crates; […]

Interior Health said Monday that New Denver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre due to limited nursing availability. Interior Health said from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Arrow Lakes Hospital […]

On International Overdose Awareness Day, Interior Health has released the 2022 Medical Health Officer (MHO) report, The Toxic Drug Crisis in BC’s Southern Interior Region (Part 2). Authored by MHO Dr. Carol Fenton, the report updates on the impact of the unregulated substance poisoning emergency since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, explores the various reasons […]

For the 13th consecutive month, more than 190 British Columbians have lost their lives to the toxic, unregulated drug supply, according to preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service. “I am saddened to once again report that British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis shows no signs of abating,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner. “We are […]

With mental illness and disorders causing concerning questions in the saga of street culture issues besetting communities across B.C., there is a ketamine-assisted therapy being offered in Nelson that could offer some answers. As the region’s only legal psychedelic therapy option, Understory Wellness is a ketamine-assisted therapy business opening in Nelson and the Kootenays this […]

Interior Health (IH) is proud to announce the opening of a new interventional radiology (IR) suite at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), which will benefit patients from across the health authority. This new suite is designed to offer minimally invasive procedures for the diagnosis, treatment of various medical conditions such...

People living with diabetes will benefit from BC PharmaCare’s coverage of FreeStyle Libre, a flash glucose monitor (FGM) that allows users to read their blood-sugar levels by swiping a hand-held device or smartphone over the sensor. The FreeStyle Libre will be covered by BC PharmaCare as a limited-coverage benefit beginning...

Not since December of 2022 has the Slocan Community Health Centre emergency department closed. However, Wednesday, Interior Health sent out a media release advising of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre due to unexpected, limited nursing availability. Interior Health said that ...