Letter: We need patient centred care, province-wide
Dear Editor, As I write this, patients are travelling long distances for consultations with specialists. Many of these journeys, for simple face to face meetings are made even though the required workup has been completed and the results forwarded. BUT - What if you could visit a GP, have the referral and information forwarded...
WHO convenes coronavirus forum next week
In a press release issued today, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a forum to be held in response to the coronavirus outbreak. “WHO is convening a global research and innovation forum to mobilize international action in response to the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV),” the release began, and reads as follows: "Harnessing...
Seniors Advocate reports on elder-care facilities, finds need for change
A Billion Reasons to Care is the first provincial review of the $1.4 billion-dollar contracted long-term care sector in British Columbia. The review examined industry contracts, annual audited financial statements and detailed reporting on revenue and expenditures for the years 2016/17 and 2017/18. The BC Seniors Advocate ...
First case of coronavirus confirmed in BC
One case of the new coronavirus has been identified in BC. Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer (PHO), have issued the following joint statement regarding a case of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): “Late yesterday, our BC Centre for Disease Control public health lab confirmed...
Joint statement on first Canadian case of novel coronavirus
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding the coronavirus in Ontario: "We can confirm that a resident of Ontario is presumed positive for the novel coronavirus that arose late last year in Wuhan, China. "To date, there have been...
New research shows more people knowingly use fentanyl, points to importance of comprehensive response to reduce risks
Fentanyl use by people who use drugs in B.C. has doubled since 2015, and two-thirds of people are aware they’ve taken it, finds new research from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). The findings point to the importance of taking comprehensive measures to reduce the risk for people who take the powerful opioid knowingly...
Understanding Universal Health Care Reform Options: Private Insurance
Every high-income country with universal health care allows private medical insurance to cover some necessary health-care costs, except Canada, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. Currently, the provinces prohibit or severely restrict the ...
Maintaining Nelson’s ophthalmology services 'top priority' says Mayor
Following a story in The Nelson Daily regarding changes to eye surgery or eyecare treatment once the local Nelson-based ophthalmologist retires, the City of Nelson issued a press release explaining how the municipality and Interior Health is working to ensure the city’s ophthalmology services are maintained. Nelson’s only...
Op/Ed: Building affordable housing, so people can create strong communities
When I first heard the story, I thought it was the plot for a TV show. A young, working mother living with her kids in an apartment in Vancouver. Her downstairs neighbour is an elderly woman who comes over weekly to help with child care and house cleaning. Over the months of living in the same building and being a regular...
Dr. Phillip Malpass recognized at BC Cancer Summit Awards
Dr. Phillip Malpass of Nelson was recognized at the BC Cancer Summit Awards Dinner held last month at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. Malpass, an internist / geriatrician and part of the Community Oncology Network at Kootenay Lake Hospital, received the Patient Care Champion Award as nominated by patients. The BC Cancer...
