Tag Archives: BC Emergency Health service

Health, Transportation

Islanders worry they’ll be marooned if medical emergency strikes at night

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Editor’s note: the last ferry from Cortes Island, a 45 minute ferry trip away from Quadra, leaves at 5:50 PM

Residents of Quadra Island are worried about being stranded ashore when medical emergencies occur at night because BC Ferries can’t guarantee a crew for sailings to get ambulances across to the hospital in Campbell River.

A petition with close to 1,000 signatures is circulating in the community of 2,700 full-time residents calling on B.C.’s Transportation Minister Rob Fleming to work with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and BC Ferries to reinstate off-hour ferry service so ambulances can get patients to hospital in a timely manner.

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Health

Primary health care ‘collapsing’ in B.C. rural communities, critics say

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Back-to-back closures of small community emergency rooms on North Vancouver Island over the weekend is another example of the overall erosion of the primary care system in rural communities, the BC Green Party and the BC Nurses’ Union say. 

Due to ongoing staffing shortages, the emergency room at Port Hardy Hospital was temporarily closed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. That closure took place hard on the heels of another temporary emergency department closure at the neighbouring Port McNeill Hospital from 3 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m Sunday. 

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Health

Ambulance service changes coming to Haida Gwaii

By Norman Galimski,  Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lack of paramedics in Sandspit is causing community concern after being left without the emergency service for three days from Oct. 15 to 17. This is not the first time the community has been left without their own ambulance service, Evan Putterill, North Coast Regional District director of Moresby Island, said.

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Health

Support for Rural Paramedics improved but SRD wants to meet with BCEHS

The outlook for rural ambulance services within the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has greatly improved, several directors agreed. Others require more information. 

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Health

Cortes Island and rural coastal communities to receive more paramedics

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CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Earlier this month, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) initiated a staffing model designed to ensure that small rural communities like Cortes Island have four scheduled on-call (SOC) paramedics.

“The SOC model means shifts can be fully scheduled without waiting for availability of on-call paramedics. SOC shifts are, in general, 8 hours at work, and 16 hours on-call for 3 day rotations,” Sarah Morris, BCEHS media relations, said in an email to CKTZ News. “These additional positions were posted the week of Aug 6, and BCEHS is following the recruitment process as per the collective agreement with the paramedics’ union.”

Local on-call staff will be recruited as required to provide relief coverage for leaves and vacations.

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