Healthcare and Medicine

Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake is the focus of a call for action by both TNG and Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

‘Lives are at stake’: TNG calls for independent investigation into Cariboo Memorial Hospital

‘We need more information on what is being done to fix the problems,” said Chief Joe Alphonse

 

Parents in Kelowna lack confidence in the vaccination (Metro Creative Graphics Photo)

Kelowna parents are vaccinated but most kids are not

Children in Kelowna have a 36 per cent vaccination rate

 

A pharmacy worker counts pills for a prescription, March 11, 2021. B.C. announced expanded medication coverage on May 3, 2022, including for treating Crohn’s disease and migraines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

B.C. expands PharmaCare coverage for Crohn’s, MS, heart failure, birth control

More medications partially or fully covered as of mid-April

 

A coated (left) versus uncoated catheter. The UBC-developed coating shows promise for preventing infection from implanted medical devices. (Credit: Kizhakkedathu Lab)

UBC-developed silver coating could be answer to bacteria-free catheters, feeding tubes

Implanted medical devices carry a high risk of infection

A coated (left) versus uncoated catheter. The UBC-developed coating shows promise for preventing infection from implanted medical devices. (Credit: Kizhakkedathu Lab)
Interior Health is offering a $10,000 signing bonus in an effort to fill an “urgent” need for medical laboratory technologists in its region. (Pixabay)

Interior Health dangles $10K signing bonus to help fill ‘urgent’ need for medical lab techs

A Vernon councillor advocating for shorter wait times at local labs applauded the initiative

Interior Health is offering a $10,000 signing bonus in an effort to fill an “urgent” need for medical laboratory technologists in its region. (Pixabay)
The Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease is marking the 2022 World Parkinson’s Day with the launch of a new international symbol of awareness, “The Spark.” (Courtesy the Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease)

‘We need some urgency behind this’: B.C. advocate calls for action on World Parkinson’s Day

New ‘spark’ symbol released to inspire conversation, awareness around growing disease

The Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease is marking the 2022 World Parkinson’s Day with the launch of a new international symbol of awareness, “The Spark.” (Courtesy the Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease)
Health-care workers experienced COVID-driven burnout (File photo)

B.C. healthcare workers impacted by lack of mental health resources

The stress of COVID has contributed to the current hospital staffing crisis

Health-care workers experienced COVID-driven burnout (File photo)
(Photo: Metro creative stock)

Vaccination rates among children vary across Interior Health region

The province authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 earlier this month

(Photo: Metro creative stock)
The entrance sign to the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. The Canadian Medical Association say it will cost $1.3 billion to clear the backlogs for eight key procedures that were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler

More than $1B needed to clear surgical backlogs: Canadian Medical Association

Consulting firm Deloitte found a backlog of 327,800 procedures across the country

The entrance sign to the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto is seen on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. The Canadian Medical Association say it will cost $1.3 billion to clear the backlogs for eight key procedures that were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler
Sporting and other indoor events in the Interior Health region are limited to half capacity, while elsewhere in B.C. this COVID-19 safety measure has been lifted. (Photo: Pixabay)

Interior Health remains mum on capacity restrictions

Many businesses in the region are demanding answers from the health authority

Sporting and other indoor events in the Interior Health region are limited to half capacity, while elsewhere in B.C. this COVID-19 safety measure has been lifted. (Photo: Pixabay)
Researchers analyzed more than 1,200 Reddit posts to gather data. (Pexels photo)

Young people are quitting vaping due to health impacts: UBC Okanagan study

The study aims to inform resources that are created for those who want to quit e-cigarettes

Researchers analyzed more than 1,200 Reddit posts to gather data. (Pexels photo)
This Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 photo shows a bottle of aspirin in the Brooklyn borough of New York. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s preliminary updated advice released on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, older adults without heart disease shouldn’t take daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. (AP Photo/Emma H. Tobin)

Advice shifting on aspirin use for preventing heart attacks

Daily low-dose aspirin advice for many who already have had a heart attack or stroke has not changed

This Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 photo shows a bottle of aspirin in the Brooklyn borough of New York. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s preliminary updated advice released on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, older adults without heart disease shouldn’t take daily aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. (AP Photo/Emma H. Tobin)
(Health Canada)

Advil Cold & Sinus Day/Night blister packs recalled due to labelling error

Nighttime caplets could result in serious health consequences for those who need to remain alert

(Health Canada)
Individuals who took Alesse birth control pills between Jan. 1, 2017, and April 30, 2019, could be eligible to take part in a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturers. (Black Press Media files)

B.C. judge certifies class action against manufacturers of Alesse birth control pills

Two plaintiffs came before the court after becoming pregnant despite taking their Alesse birth control pills

Individuals who took Alesse birth control pills between Jan. 1, 2017, and April 30, 2019, could be eligible to take part in a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturers. (Black Press Media files)
Paramedic Matthew Schlatter of Victoria is living a fuller life today due to the double lung transplant he received in 2019. He encourages B.C. residents to register as an organ donor and let their families know their wishes. (Instagram/Matthew Schlatter)

B.C. man living a full, active life after double-lung transplant

Matt Schlatter encourages people to register as an organ donor to help others live

Paramedic Matthew Schlatter of Victoria is living a fuller life today due to the double lung transplant he received in 2019. He encourages B.C. residents to register as an organ donor and let their families know their wishes. (Instagram/Matthew Schlatter)
Average response times for critical “purple” and “red” calls were between nine and 10 minutes Feb. 19 in Metro Vancouver, with only less critical “yellow” calls receiving an average response time of 45 minutes. The longer than usual delay was due to a combination of factors, BC Emergency Health Services said. (APBC image)

After a night of one-hour waits for ambulances, union goes public with concerns

B.C. Ambulance Service says high-priority calls were still 10 minutes or less

Average response times for critical “purple” and “red” calls were between nine and 10 minutes Feb. 19 in Metro Vancouver, with only less critical “yellow” calls receiving an average response time of 45 minutes. The longer than usual delay was due to a combination of factors, BC Emergency Health Services said. (APBC image)
(Contributed, Odette's Skin Care)

Kelowna business helps seniors improve health with ‘do it all’ treatment method

Odettes Skincare and Medi Spa offers a different approach to skincare and wellness

(Contributed, Odette's Skin Care)
A B.C. College of Pharmacists order restricts Sunrise Pharmacy on Main Street from dispensing any narcotic or controlled drug substance intended for opioid agonist treatment. (Western News File)

South Okanagan pharmacist receives $20,000 fine and three-month suspension

Joelle Mbamy will be required to retake several courses before being allowed to dispensing medicine

A B.C. College of Pharmacists order restricts Sunrise Pharmacy on Main Street from dispensing any narcotic or controlled drug substance intended for opioid agonist treatment. (Western News File)
Breastfeeding continues to be encouraged during the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean new parents don’t have COVID-19 concerns. Photo: Becky Litz Photography

Breastfeeding during the pandemic: what we know and don’t know

There’s still little research to show if breastmilk transmits COVID-19

Breastfeeding continues to be encouraged during the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean new parents don’t have COVID-19 concerns. Photo: Becky Litz Photography
Aryan Singh Deol with his father Gaganpreet Singh Deol and mother Harpreet Kaur Deol outside the family’s home in Surrey on Monday (Aug. 10). (Photo: Tom Zillich)

Oh baby, what a birthday gift: $2.8M raised to help B.C. boy with rare disease

‘We are very thankful to everybody,’ Aryan Deol’s father says

Aryan Singh Deol with his father Gaganpreet Singh Deol and mother Harpreet Kaur Deol outside the family’s home in Surrey on Monday (Aug. 10). (Photo: Tom Zillich)