News

More people in Prince George will have access to long-term care as Providence Living and Northern Health prepare to build a new care home with 200 beds.

Providence and Northern Health have signed an agreement to build a long-term care home that will add 200 beds in Prince George at 6500 Southridge Ave. Providence, in partnership with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George, is contributing the land. This is the first new long-term care facility to be built in Prince George in 15 years.

People in Vanderhoof will benefit from improved primary and community health care with the approval of a new integrated primary-care and community health services facility to open in 2025.

To establish a fully integrated primary and community care model, physicians and nurse practitioners practising at the Omineca Medical Clinic will be co-located with the Northern Health interprofessional teams in a new facility on the St. John Hospital Campus.

There has been an increase in overdoses in Prince George linked to a dark purple substance sold as “down”. This substance is causing slow, irregular breathing needing naloxone despite being awake. Individuals are requiring continued monitoring and encouragement to breathe.

Patients, their loved ones and health-care staff at the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) will soon benefit from improved, secure parking options as a new parkade is constructed at the hospital.

“I am happy to see Northern Health take this step toward redeveloping the UHNBC campus, which has needed a refresh and investment for years,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “I have personally seen how capital projects like these support health-care workers and contribute to their recruitment and retention, which helps patients receive the high-quality care they rely on.”

The Northwest Working Group is moving forward to develop critically needed, culturally safe addiction supports in Terrace and the surrounding Northwestern region.

Terrace has one of the highest rates of deaths in the province due to the toxic-drug crisis, with 98.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2023. Indigenous people are almost six times more likely to die from illicit drug poisoning.

More people in Prince George and the surrounding area have access to a new sobering centre operated by Carrier Sekani Family Services in partnership with the Province and Northern Health.

"There is a vital need for people to have access to sobering and assessment services close to home," said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Together with our partners at Carrier Sekani and Northern Health, we’re bringing these critical services to Prince George to save more lives and keep people safe.”