News

Residents of Kitimat and area will benefit from better access to diagnostic imaging services with the funding committed and the planning beginning for a new CT scanner at Kitimat General Hospital.

“With meaningful community partnerships, people in Kitimat will be able to get the scans they need faster and closer to home,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Adding a new CT scanner at the Kitimat General Hospital is part of the actions our government is taking to expand health services and ensure patients have access to necessary and life-saving care.”

There has been an increase in overdoses in the community of Dawson Creek linked to a chunky purple substance sold as “side”. This drug causes sudden overdose when smoked. It has taken multiple doses of naloxone to reverse.

People in the North are one step closer to enhanced acute care and a dedicated cardiac unit with the approval of the business plan for a new patient-care tower at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC).

In response to the provincial health officer’s decision to end the COVID-19 public-health emergency, which ends the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in health-care settings, the Province is making it mandatory for health-care workers to disclose their immunization status as a way to help keep people safe.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer (PHO), has issued the following statement:

“As British Columbia’s provincial health officer, I am issuing an order to end the public-health emergency for COVID-19 and rescinding all related orders.

“Since March 2020, we have been in a provincial public-health emergency to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. While COVID-19 is not gone, we now have high levels of protection in the health-care system and in communities throughout BC.

People experiencing a mental-health or substance-use crisis in Prince George will soon have access to a new community-led Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT) to help them stabilize and find the support they need.

Northern Health is proactively moving patients from Stuart Lake Hospital in Fort St. James, as part of advance planning related to the Pitka Creek wildfire activity in the area.

Stuart Lake Hospital remains open. The hospital/emergency department remains open for urgent care needs and will continue to run until the status of evacuation alerts or orders significantly changes. Lab and medical imaging services will also continue.

The B.C. health system was impacted by the global CrowdStrike disruption on July 18. We are pleased to share as of July 20, that due to the tremendous efforts of the Northern Health teams and our partners involved in this response, the majority of systems and services have now returned to normal operations and any major risks have been mitigated. Northern Health switchboards are fully operational for individuals who need to connect with this service.