Health

Costs at the new Cowichan District Hospital have skyrocketed to $1.45 billion. (Citizen file photo)

Costs of new Cowichan hospital increase to $1.45 billion

Government says cost increase related mostly to labour shortages and supply-chain challenges

Costs at the new Cowichan District Hospital have skyrocketed to $1.45 billion. (Citizen file photo)
Costs at the new Cowichan District Hospital have skyrocketed to $1.45 billion. (Citizen file photo)

Costs of new Cowichan hospital increase to $1.45 billion

Government says cost increase related mostly to labour shortages and supply-chain challenges

Costs at the new Cowichan District Hospital have skyrocketed to $1.45 billion. (Citizen file photo)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during an announcement in Ingersoll, Ont., on Monday, December 5, 2022. The prime minster says he is “extremely worried” about a rise in respiratory illnesses among children as hospitals across the country report they are struggling to keep up with high volumes of patients. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

Trudeau urges vaccinations amid a rise in kids’ illnesses clogging hospital ERs

PM says it’s everyone responsibility to ‘step up again’ to get vaccinated

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during an announcement in Ingersoll, Ont., on Monday, December 5, 2022. The prime minster says he is “extremely worried” about a rise in respiratory illnesses among children as hospitals across the country report they are struggling to keep up with high volumes of patients. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne
Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. A large study that chronicles the trajectory of COVID-19 over the first 2-1/2 years of the pandemic shows most British Columbia children and adults under age 60 developed antibodies to slash the risk of severe illness either through vaccination, infection or both. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Most B.C. residents under 60 have been infected with COVID-19 or vaccinated: study

Proportion of those with COVID-19 antibodies rose to 95 per cent this summer from 5 at start of 2021

Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. A large study that chronicles the trajectory of COVID-19 over the first 2-1/2 years of the pandemic shows most British Columbia children and adults under age 60 developed antibodies to slash the risk of severe illness either through vaccination, infection or both. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Resources being diverted to emergency care is disrupting scheduled surgeries across B.C. (Pixabay photo)

B.C. boy needing heart surgery waits, and waits some more

Insufficient staffing, skyrocketing respiratory illness have caused mass B.C. surgery cancellations

Resources being diverted to emergency care is disrupting scheduled surgeries across B.C. (Pixabay photo)
An aerial view of Alert Bay, located on Cormorant Island. (alertbay.ca photo)

Cormorant Island’s health-care crisis continues on, with no end in sight

Two doctors have finished out their contracts, leaving only one doctor now for the entire island

An aerial view of Alert Bay, located on Cormorant Island. (alertbay.ca photo)
FILE - This Oct. 7, 2003 file photo shows a closeup of a human brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, on display at the Museum of Neuroanatomy at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y. An experimental Alzheimer’s drug modestly slowed the brain disease’s inevitable worsening, researchers reported Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022 - and the next question is how much difference that might make in people’s lives. Japanese drugmaker Eisai and its U.S. partner Biogen had announced earlier this fall that the drug lecanemab appeared to work, a badly needed bright spot after repeated disappointments in the quest for better Alzheimer’s treatments. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

Drug slows Alzheimer’s but can it make a real difference?

Lecanemab delayed patients’ worsening by about five months over the course of the 18-month study

FILE - This Oct. 7, 2003 file photo shows a closeup of a human brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, on display at the Museum of Neuroanatomy at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y. An experimental Alzheimer’s drug modestly slowed the brain disease’s inevitable worsening, researchers reported Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022 - and the next question is how much difference that might make in people’s lives. Japanese drugmaker Eisai and its U.S. partner Biogen had announced earlier this fall that the drug lecanemab appeared to work, a badly needed bright spot after repeated disappointments in the quest for better Alzheimer’s treatments. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Activists prepare to release a sky lantern with a message on the banks of the Hooghly River ahead of World AIDS Day in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

HIV activists hope World AIDS Day marks an end to backsliding on infections, stigma

Public Health Agency of Canada estimated 62,790 Canadians were living with HIV in 2020

Activists prepare to release a sky lantern with a message on the banks of the Hooghly River ahead of World AIDS Day in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Jaime Morgan - Photography by Lia Crowe

Working it

Jaime Morgan and The Gottman Method for nurturing relationships

  • Nov 28, 2022
Jaime Morgan - Photography by Lia Crowe
Can’t sleep at night? You could be worrying about money. (Pexels photo)

Half of Canadians losing sleep over money woes: poll

Just 28% of B.C. residents are getting enough sleep

Can’t sleep at night? You could be worrying about money. (Pexels photo)
Employment, Workforce Development and Disability inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough rises during Question Period, in Ottawa on September 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal government to extend EI sickness benefits from 15 to 26 weeks

Workers applying for EI will be eligible for the more-generous benefits starting on Dec. 18

Employment, Workforce Development and Disability inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough rises during Question Period, in Ottawa on September 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Nurses march along Boundary Avenue outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Thursday, Nov. 24. (Photo courtesy Kath Kitts)

Nurses rally in Nanaimo to demand action with health-care system ‘in a state of crisis’

Event at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital part of B.C. Nurses’ Union’s ‘Help B.C. Nurses’ campaign

Nurses march along Boundary Avenue outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on Thursday, Nov. 24. (Photo courtesy Kath Kitts)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while responding to questions during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Monday, November 7, 2022. Dix says the government has plans to cancel surgeries at British Columbia hospitals to make room for patients with respiratory illnesses, but it has not yet reached that point.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. has plan to cancel surgeries to make room for flu cases in overcrowded hospitals

Minister says measures to provide space for emergency respiratory cases will be taken if necessary

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while responding to questions during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Monday, November 7, 2022. Dix says the government has plans to cancel surgeries at British Columbia hospitals to make room for patients with respiratory illnesses, but it has not yet reached that point.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Lumby’s Cole Derry took the next big step in his kidney journey, receiving a transplant on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Cole’s Kidney Journey/Facebook)

B.C. man has successful kidney transplant surgery

Both Cole Derry and his living donor, Pam, are doing well post-surgery

Lumby’s Cole Derry took the next big step in his kidney journey, receiving a transplant on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Cole’s Kidney Journey/Facebook)
A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is seen during a vaccination clinic at the Norristown Public Health Center in Norristown, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. A Canadian study suggests cases of myocarditis are rare but higher than expected among young men who got a second dose of Moderna, though there's little to no difference between that COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech following a third shot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke

B.C. study finds low but increased risk of myocarditis after 2nd Moderna COVID shot

BC Centre for Disease Control finds men between the ages of 18 and 29 are most at risk

A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is seen during a vaccination clinic at the Norristown Public Health Center in Norristown, Pa., Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. A Canadian study suggests cases of myocarditis are rare but higher than expected among young men who got a second dose of Moderna, though there's little to no difference between that COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech following a third shot. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke
Kate Forte kisses her daughter, Lexie Stroiney, 6, as research nurse Michelle Harris, left, demonstrates a blood draw on her stuffed animal “Sprinkles” at Children’s National Hospital, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Lexie had COVID-19 and is part of a NIH-funded multi-year study at Children’s National Hospital to look at impacts of COVID-19 on children’s physical health and quality of life. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

BC Children’s Hospital triages patients from E/R due to respiratory illness spike

Department is mostly seeing viral illnesses including COVID-19, influenza, or RSV

Kate Forte kisses her daughter, Lexie Stroiney, 6, as research nurse Michelle Harris, left, demonstrates a blood draw on her stuffed animal “Sprinkles” at Children’s National Hospital, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Lexie had COVID-19 and is part of a NIH-funded multi-year study at Children’s National Hospital to look at impacts of COVID-19 on children’s physical health and quality of life. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Eric James requires dialysis at Royal Jubilee Hospital three days a week and feels lucky the city has a nocturnal program where he can sleep through the treatment. (Courtesy Eric James)

Victoria man pleads for a kidney – for himself and others

‘It feels weird asking someone for money, let alone a piece of themselves’

Eric James requires dialysis at Royal Jubilee Hospital three days a week and feels lucky the city has a nocturnal program where he can sleep through the treatment. (Courtesy Eric James)
Firefighters from the Malakwa Fire Department and others from the Shuswap participate in a live-burn training exercise. (File Photo)

New builds made of combustible materials make for hotter blazes: Shuswap firefighters

‘It really is a dangerous environment now. Stuff can be replaced but firefighters cannot’

Firefighters from the Malakwa Fire Department and others from the Shuswap participate in a live-burn training exercise. (File Photo)
Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau and leader of the BC Greens wants to see the mask mandate reinstated in indoor public spaces. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Green Party leader wants mask mandate in public places reinstated

Call comes as B.C.’s pediatric beds fill up

Cowichan Valley MLA Sonia Furstenau and leader of the BC Greens wants to see the mask mandate reinstated in indoor public spaces. (Black Press Media file photo)
Premier John Horgan makes his first public appearance since completing cancer treatment for Lunar New Year at the B.C. legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. (John Horgan/Twitter)

Outgoing B.C. premier makes pitch to provinces and PM to end health gridlock

John Horgan not looking for a job, but told peers he’s happy to help any way he can

Premier John Horgan makes his first public appearance since completing cancer treatment for Lunar New Year at the B.C. legislature on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. (John Horgan/Twitter)