New contract already improving conditions for province’s paramedics
British Columbia’s emergency health workers are finding themselves in a pretty good place as they mark Paramedic Services Week in the province in 2023. “It’s an exciting time to join BCEHS,” says Sara Thomas, the manager of clinical operations for Kootenay West. “With changes to the collective agreement, it’s creating quite...
Interior Health reduces its carbon footprint by collecting waste anesthetic gases
Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops has completed a three-year project that will see waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) collected in all 11 of its operating rooms, significantly reducing the hospital’s carbon footprint. Anesthetic gases used for surgeries are a known potent source of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute ...
B.C. Nurse says decriminalization has made it harder to treat overdose patients
By Samantha Holomay "We are having people coming in, given Narcan, and they are not responding to it," said a Registered Nurse. A withdrawal and detox management nurse says she has far more patients detoxing in her care after the provincial government decriminalized certain substances. Megan, a Registered Nurse (who wishes...
Nelson rally calls for more action on anniversary of BC toxic drug crisis
Concerned citizens, families of loved ones and advocates rallied Friday afternoon in front of Nelson City Hall to raise awareness of all the lives lost during the past seven years to illicit toxic drugs. The rally, organized by Rural Empowered Drug Users Network (REDUN), marked the seventh anniversary of a public health...
Drug Alert issued for entire Interior Health Authority
In a media release, Interior Heath issued a DRUG ALERT for the entire Interior Heath Authority after Cocaine containing Fentanyl is believed to be causing a high risk of fatal overdoses. Interior Health said this Cocaine is believed to be connected to multiple overdose incidents and fatalities throughout region. “At this point...
Supreme Court of Canada upholds BC Supreme Court's landmark decision protecting public health care
Today, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Cambie Surgeries Corporation’s (CSC) attempt to overturn previous decisions made by BC’s courts that upheld the BC Medicare Protection Act. This decision marks the end of the corporation’s lengthy legal battle to overturn key provisions in the BC Medicare Protection Act that ensure...
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute hosts pair of events in West Kootenay
For the first time, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute will be travelling to the Kootenays with two free programs aimed at giving senior high school students and the community the opportunity to explore careers in health sciences, interact with world-class researchers and health professionals, and discover the ...
Mandatory vaccination policy rescinded for provincial public servants
As of April 3, 2023, the BC Government said in a media release that BC Public Service employees will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19. The decision to rescind the policy was made based on the high level of vaccination among public-service employees and the current state of the pandemic....
Opinion: Profit over safety = recipe for disaster
On February 3, a 150-car train carrying toxic chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio. Close to half the town’s 4,700 residents had to evacuate as deadly gas and smoke fouled the air and chemicals contaminated waterways. Fortunately, no people were killed (although at least 3,500 fish perished), unlike in the devastating...
Nakusp man dies on Arrow Lakes Hospital doorstep
John Boivin is the Local Journalism Reporter for the Valley Voice Interior Health and BC’s ambulance service say they are reviewing an incident where a Nakusp man died late last month on the doorstep of Arrow Lakes Hospital. “Whenever an event like this occurs, the staff and administration will review to learn if there was ...
