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St. John Hospital flooding preliminary cause determined, restoration work begins

Work to repair flood damage to Vanderhoof’s St. John Hospital is underway.

A detailed assessment of damage caused by the failure of a hot water heater on the hospital’s second floor is complete, and a specialized restoration company with experience in health care sites has been awarded the contract to complete the cleanup and reconstruction work.

Update - St. John Hospital flood recovery work underway

St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof continues to recover from a recent internal flooding incident.

A specialized restoration company with experience in health care sites has been awarded the contract to complete assessments, planning, and the renovations required to repair the flood damage. With these assessments currently underway, a time frame for completion is not yet available.

St. John Hospital remains open, some services impacted by flooding

Vanderhoof and area residents are advised that St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof remains open, as the facility recovers from a weekend flooding incident inside the hospital.

The hospital’s emergency department, inpatient areas, oncology services, laboratory and medical imaging departments are fully operational. Patients can continue to access these services as they normally would; the public is asked to pay close attention to directional signs, as access to some areas of the hospital may have changed.

Public reminder about appropriate emergency department use

Northern Health is reminding the public about appropriate use of the emergency department at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia. Due to seasonal conditions, the hospital is experiencing an increase in patients, and is asking the public for assistance by using health care resources appropriately.

Northern Health’s emergency rooms tend to patients who have experienced a sudden and/or unusual change in their health. This includes, but isn’t limited to, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or pain, broken bones, chest pain, suspected overdoses, and eye injuries.

Bulkley Valley District Hospital celebrates improved access to breast cancer screening

Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson was joined by representatives from Northern Health and BC Cancer’s Screening Mammography Program, along with members of the Smithers Breast Health Advisory Group and other stakeholders to celebrate the official opening of Bulkley Valley District Hospital’s new digital mammography service in Smithers.

Unwanted medications collection on Haida Gwaii

Haida Gwaii Hospital & Health Centre - Xaayda Gwaay Ngaaysdll Naay, the Skidegate Health Centre and Queen Charlotte RCMP are joining forces to remove unused or expired prescription (or non-prescription) drugs from communities on Haida Gwaii.

Prescription medications are often not fully used by patients, for a variety of reasons. Forgotten and/or expired medications can collect in people’s homes for months or years, presenting a risk if they wind up in the hands of children, or vulnerable adults.