Category Archives: Health

Health

Citizens for Quality Health Care Call For independent Enquiry into Campbell River Hospital lab

(Editor’s note: The following article mentions matters of concern to residents of the entire Greater Campbell River Health Area, which includes Cortes, Quadra and other Discovery Islands.)

Island Health has long been ignoring North Island concerns about the manner in which consultations for clinical pathology samples were transferred to Nanaimo and Victoria. Seventy-five doctors and dozens of lab technologists and assistants in Campbell River made their opposition known. The Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District Board has been seeking to opt out since November 2019 and at its last meeting before COVID struck requested the area’s original pathology services be reinstated. Two Comox Valley pathologists, Dr. Chris Bellamy and Dr. Wayne Donn, recently tended their resignations because of ‘differences with Island Health’. They will be leaving on August 23rd, 2020. Now Citizens for Quality Health Care (CFQHC) is calling for an independent enquiry into the changes at the Campbell River Hospital Lab, which also serves outlying areas like Cortes, Quadra and the rest of the Discovery Islands.

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Health

Advocates Call For Government To Rescind Bill 22

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Calling it punitive and backwards, advocates want the B.C. government to rescind proposed legislation that would allow youth to be held in hospital against their will after a drug overdose. The B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions has announced it is putting Bill 22 to amend the Mental Health Act on hold. But critics want it nixed entirely.

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Health, Indigenous Nations

First Nations Disproportionately Impacted By Opoid Overdose Crises

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Indigenous people are being disproportionately impacted by the opioid overdose crisis during the pandemic, according to the First Nations Health Authority in B.C. But the overdose crisis is not just a story about numbers, Dr. Shannon McDonald, FNHA acting chief medical officer, said in an interview with Canada’s National Observer on Monday.

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Health

Another Record Breaking Month Of Deaths From Illicit Drug Overdoses

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Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

B.C. recorded its deadliest month ever for illicit drug overdoses as fatalities from increasingly toxic street drugs continue to spike during the pandemic.

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Health, Indigenous Nations

Haida MATRIARCHS Oppose Reopening Luxury Sport Fishing Resorts

By Karissa Gall, Haida Gwaii Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Haida matriarchs have announced they will uphold Haida law by occupying two ancient villages on the islands. G̲aandlee Guu Jaalang, the “daughters of the rivers,” announced on July 9 that two luxury sport fishing resorts have disrespected Haida law and jurisdiction, and are putting island residents at risk by reopening despite the ongoing Council of the Haida Nation (CHN) state of emergency measures, which do not permit non-essential travel at this time. After several community meetings, the release said, the matriarchs are upholding Haida law through the occupation of two ancient villages, Kung and Sk’aawats.

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