Thoughts on BC Politics and More

A Victoria addictions doctor hopes new standards for overdose-prevention sites will restart plans for such services at three Island hospitals. “It’s imperative that these sites be set up as soon as possible in order to enable very ill patients to stay at hospitals and get the treatment they need,” said Dr. Caroline Ferris, former medical lead for mental health and substance use addiction medicine for Island Health. “It’s high time we got them in Island Health" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

  Some patients admitted to a Vancouver Island hospital over the long weekend were stunned to receive a notice telling them that even though they’d been admitted, there wasn’t a doctor available to care for them.   CTV News has obtained a copy of the document, which tells patients at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital that while an emergency room physician determined they needed to be there, “you are admitted to hospital but without a physician overseeing your ongoing care.”    The letter, which is not on letterhead and written by staff, provides contact information for senior leaders at the Island Health Authority and the leaders, explaining that hospitalists on shift were overwhelmed.   "You will not have a most responsible physician assigned to you until their capacity as a service permits this,” it says ... CLICK HERE to read the full story

It is extremely doubtful anyone in Nanaimo is going to complain about todays announcement from NDP Health Minister Adrian Dix -- including Liberal supporters through-out the region.   That said, news of a new intensive care unit (ICU) to be built at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) has raised suspicion, from at least a few people, as to the timing. “Our government is proud to move forward with replacing this out-of-date ICU” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health This morning Health Minister Adrian Dix stated, “ Our government is proud to move forward with replacing this out-of-date ICU ”. “ Patients will be able to receive the high levels of care they require in a more modern facility, which will be three times the current unit’s size, and health-care workers will also be able to take advantage of updated medical technology to help save lives .” The government media release stated that the need for a replacement of the agin...