Island Health

Ray Watkins Elementary School in Gold River has been closed for two days after some staff and students reported itchiness, redness and welts. Photo courtesy Vancouver Island West School District

Gold River elementary school closed for two days for health reasons

Staff and students at Ray Watkins Elementary reported itchiness, redness and welts on Wednesday

 

Physician assistants are highly touted in every market they are recognized. British Columbia has yet to recognize them as health-care professionals. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE

While demand for physician assistants grows worldwide, B.C. uses a ‘wait and see’ approach

This is the third instalment in a series of articles looking at…

 

Leah Hollins and Kathy MacNeil prepare for public forum in Chemainus. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Island Health board chair reflects on challenges and accomplishments of the past year

Leah Hollins Special to Black Press 2022 challenged publicly-funded health-care systems locally…

  • Dec 28, 2022

 

Port Hardy Hospital will have no overnight emergency department for 18 days. (Island Health photo)

18-day overnight emergency department closure announced for Port Hardy Hospital

Port McNeill Hospital to remain open 24/7, unless otherwise announced as staffing shortages continue

Port Hardy Hospital will have no overnight emergency department for 18 days. (Island Health photo)
Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Saanich daycare kerfuffle reveals dire state of childcare in Greater Victoria

Non-refundable deposit not returned once parents learned of provider’s criminal history

Sarah Fennell, along with several Greater Victoria parents, is speaking out after paying a $1,100 deposit for a daycare spot. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Coastal Sage Healing House at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria will provide six treatment beds for women and non-binary people with moderate-to-severe substance-use challenges. (Courtesy Island Health)

Victoria hospital to house 6 beds for women and non-binary people facing substance-use challenges

Coastal Sage Healing House expected to welcome first participants early next year

Coastal Sage Healing House at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria will provide six treatment beds for women and non-binary people with moderate-to-severe substance-use challenges. (Courtesy Island Health)
Black Press Media file

North Island emergency rooms continue to face overnight closures

Island Health is working on recruitment and strategies to secure additional nursing coverage

Black Press Media file
Island Health’s new chief medical health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson outside Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Island Health’s new top medical officer eyes toxic drug crisis, health inequities

Dr. Reka Gustafson speaks on her goals to recover from the pandemic and more

Island Health’s new chief medical health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson outside Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Dr. Prean Armogam is speaking out on the North Island health-care crisis. (Prean Armogam photo)

North Island doctor speaks out on the region’s unfolding health-care crisis

Dr. Armogam acknowledged there is a serious staffing shortage currently going on across Canada

Dr. Prean Armogam is speaking out on the North Island health-care crisis. (Prean Armogam photo)
This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)

Island Health offering monkeypox vaccines to those who are most at risk

Appointments available in Nanaimo, Victoria and Comox Valley the week of July 25

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)
Port McNeill Hospital. (Gazette file photo)

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

ER closures on northern Vancouver Island called a symptom of larger problem

Port McNeill Hospital. (Gazette file photo)
This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Portuguese health authorities confirmed five cases of monkeypox in young men, marking an unusual outbreak in Europe of a disease typically limited to Africa. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)

Health officials confirm 1st case of monkeypox in Vancouver Island region

Risk to general public ‘very low’

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Portuguese health authorities confirmed five cases of monkeypox in young men, marking an unusual outbreak in Europe of a disease typically limited to Africa. (Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP)
Vancouver Island residents who became mothers between March 2020 and March 2022 are encouraged to take part in a study into their experiences. (Black Press Media file photo)

Study explores pandemic experiences of new moms on Vancouver Island

Master’s student diving into where mothers found resiliency, community

Vancouver Island residents who became mothers between March 2020 and March 2022 are encouraged to take part in a study into their experiences. (Black Press Media file photo)
Ucluelet’s medical clinic will stay open thanks to support from Island Health. (Westerly file photo)

‘Sigh of relief’ in Ucluelet as Island Health steps in to keep only health clinic open

Health authority will contribute to overhead costs, develop new primary care plan for the region

Ucluelet’s medical clinic will stay open thanks to support from Island Health. (Westerly file photo)
Cameron Webster, the subject of the Follow My Brain documentary, receives his Island Health Community Service Award on May 3. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Man in mental illness recovery, teenage foundation founder earn Island Health awards

Recipients’ work helps articulate stigma in community, says Island Health director

Cameron Webster, the subject of the Follow My Brain documentary, receives his Island Health Community Service Award on May 3. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
The View Royal Surgical Centre will be acquired by Island Health. (Google Maps)

Island Health acquires private surgical centres in View Royal, Nanaimo

Move expected to add 4,600 surgeries, endoscopies annually on the Island

The View Royal Surgical Centre will be acquired by Island Health. (Google Maps)
B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)

Blood becoming ‘available at all times’ for trauma patients on Vancouver Island

Island Health and B.C. Emergency Health Services announce partnership

B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)
Island Health has a supply of Pfizer COVID-19 Paxlovid pills, one of two new therapeutic treatments being used for high-risk patients and people not fully vaccinated. The drug was approved by Health Canada on Jan. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer)

New COVID therapies make a world of difference for Island Health patients

Outpatient clinics in Victoria, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Campbell River offering treatments

Island Health has a supply of Pfizer COVID-19 Paxlovid pills, one of two new therapeutic treatments being used for high-risk patients and people not fully vaccinated. The drug was approved by Health Canada on Jan. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer)
Six residents at The Heights at Mt. View long-term care home have tested positive for COVID-19 as of March 1, according to Island Health. (Google Streetview)

3 new Vancouver Island care home outbreaks begin, 4 others end

New COVID-19 outbreaks in Saanich, Salt Spring Island

Six residents at The Heights at Mt. View long-term care home have tested positive for COVID-19 as of March 1, according to Island Health. (Google Streetview)
Island Health is shifting the focus of its mass COVID-19 vaccine clinics to offering shots for children aged 5 to 11. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health reworks COVID-19 vaccine clinic schedules, shifts focus to kids

Operating hours, days now changed to fit local needs

Island Health is shifting the focus of its mass COVID-19 vaccine clinics to offering shots for children aged 5 to 11. (Black Press Media file photo)