Island Health

Marjike McDonald, the 16-year-old founder of Home is Where the Heart Is, receives her Island Health Community Service Award on May 3. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Man in mental illness recovery, teenage foundation founder earn Island Health awards

Recipients’ work helps articulate stigma in community, says Island Health director

 

The View Royal Surgical Centre will be acquired by Island Health. (Google Maps)

Island Health acquires private surgical centres in View Royal, Nanaimo

Move expected to add 4,600 surgeries, endoscopies annually on the Island

 

This portrait of early provincial health officer Dr. Henry Esson Young, painted by Mary Riter Hamilton in the 1910s, was recently acquired by the Royal BC Museum. (Courtesy of Royal BC Museum)

Royal BC Museum receives portrait of 1920s public health officer

Dr. Henry Esson Young is regarded today as the Dr. Bonnie Henry of his time

 

Island Health medical health officer and avid cyclist, Dr. Mike Benusic, speaks during the April 20 kickoff event for Go By Bike Week. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Greater Victoria bike infrastructure applauded at Spring Go By Bike Week launch

Cyclists riding to work between May 30 and June 5 eligible for bike week prizes

Island Health medical health officer and avid cyclist, Dr. Mike Benusic, speaks during the April 20 kickoff event for Go By Bike Week. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
A naloxone kit. (Black Press Media file photo)

Overdose advisory issued for Greater Victoria

Island Health issues warning after increase in overdoses in Victoria, Sooke and West Shore

A naloxone kit. (Black Press Media file photo)
Teardown begins on the Oak Bay Lodge as the Capital Regional Hospital District and Island Health continue to whittle down appropriate uses for the site. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Spring cleaning: Oak Bay Lodge teardown begins

Work underway to determine best uses for the Cadboro Bay Road property

Teardown begins on the Oak Bay Lodge as the Capital Regional Hospital District and Island Health continue to whittle down appropriate uses for the site. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)

Blood becoming ‘available at all times’ for trauma patients on Vancouver Island

Island Health and B.C. Emergency Health Services announce partnership

B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have announced a partnership that will make blood for transfusions readily available for air ambulance paramedics. (Photo submitted)
Island Health has a supply of Pfizer COVID-19 Paxlovid pills, one of two new therapeutic treatments being used for high-risk patients and people not fully vaccinated. The drug was approved by Health Canada on Jan. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer)

New COVID therapies make a world of difference for Island Health patients

Outpatient clinics in Victoria, Nanaimo, Port Alberni and Campbell River offering treatments

Island Health has a supply of Pfizer COVID-19 Paxlovid pills, one of two new therapeutic treatments being used for high-risk patients and people not fully vaccinated. The drug was approved by Health Canada on Jan. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Pfizer)
Six residents at The Heights at Mt. View long-term care home have tested positive for COVID-19 as of March 1, according to Island Health. (Google Streetview)

3 new Vancouver Island care home outbreaks begin, 4 others end

New COVID-19 outbreaks in Saanich, Salt Spring Island

Six residents at The Heights at Mt. View long-term care home have tested positive for COVID-19 as of March 1, according to Island Health. (Google Streetview)
Island Health is shifting the focus of its mass COVID-19 vaccine clinics to offering shots for children aged 5 to 11. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health reworks COVID-19 vaccine clinic schedules, shifts focus to immunizing more kids

Operating hours, days now changed to fit local needs

Island Health is shifting the focus of its mass COVID-19 vaccine clinics to offering shots for children aged 5 to 11. (Black Press Media file photo)
Two residents at Selkirk Seniors Village in Victoria have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting Island Health to declare an outbreak. (Google Streetview)

Island Health declares new care home outbreaks in Victoria, Chemainus

Selkirk Seniors Village and Chemainus Health Care Centre impacted

Two residents at Selkirk Seniors Village in Victoria have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting Island Health to declare an outbreak. (Google Streetview)
Dr. Richard Stanwick spoke with press at the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Begbie Hall regarding his retirement on Jan. 27. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Indoor smoking ban, pristine drinking water in Greater Victoria among top doc’s achievements

Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health’s chief medical health officer, officially retires this week

Dr. Richard Stanwick spoke with press at the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Begbie Hall regarding his retirement on Jan. 27. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Island Health is encouraging residents to learn about and carry Naloxone to help prevent fatal overdoses. (Black Press Media file photo)

Drug poisoning and overdose advisory issued for Greater Victoria

Island Health warns of increased risk from injecting, inhaling drugs

Island Health is encouraging residents to learn about and carry Naloxone to help prevent fatal overdoses. (Black Press Media file photo)
Staffing challenges driven by Omicron cases numbers have significantly impacted the ability of Island Health to provide safe, quality care, health authority president Kathy McNeil said. (Black Press Media file photo)

Omicron-driven staffing shortages lead to service interruptions in Island Health facilities

Elective scheduled surgeries postponed again, psychiatric emergency care potentially affected

Staffing challenges driven by Omicron cases numbers have significantly impacted the ability of Island Health to provide safe, quality care, health authority president Kathy McNeil said. (Black Press Media file photo)
Four residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Saanich as of Jan. 18. (Google Maps)

Island Health declares 3 new Greater Victoria care home outbreaks, 2 others over

New outbreaks at Veterans Memorial Lodge, Sunset Lodge and Sidney Care Home

Four residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Saanich as of Jan. 18. (Google Maps)
Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is one of five sites to have newly declared COVID outbreaks, according to Island Health. (Black Press Media file photo)

Five new COVID outbreaks declared by Island Health

The health authority also announced three previous outbreaks had ended on Saturday

Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital is one of five sites to have newly declared COVID outbreaks, according to Island Health. (Black Press Media file photo)
Dr. Richard Stanwick speaks inside the new vaccine clinic at Archie Browning Sports Centre on Jan. 6. His retirement as Island Health chief medical health officer has been delayed by a month in the face of unprecedented COVID-19 cases. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island Health’s top doc delays retirement, citing Omicron wave

Chief medical health officer Dr. Richard Stanwick to remain in role until Jan. 31

Dr. Richard Stanwick speaks inside the new vaccine clinic at Archie Browning Sports Centre on Jan. 6. His retirement as Island Health chief medical health officer has been delayed by a month in the face of unprecedented COVID-19 cases. (Black Press Media file photo)
Island Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Clover Point Care long-term care home in Victoria. (Google StreetView)

New COVID outbreak declared at Victoria long-term home

More cases also announced at Victoria and Nanaimo facilities with existing outbreaks

Island Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Clover Point Care long-term care home in Victoria. (Google StreetView)
Shelley Robinson says a lack of callback for a COVID-19 PCR test appointment from Island Health has left her feeling scared and unsupported. (Courtesy of Shelley Robinson)

Langford woman with cystic fibrosis critical of Island’s COVID testing process

No callback for PCR test appoinment after five days, despite vulnerable health status

Shelley Robinson says a lack of callback for a COVID-19 PCR test appointment from Island Health has left her feeling scared and unsupported. (Courtesy of Shelley Robinson)
Rapid COVID-19 tests are now being offered at various sites throughout Island Health with an appointment. (Black Press Media file photo)

New COVID test booking system causing confusion for Vancouver Island residents

Rapid tests being offered, PCR may be an option

Rapid COVID-19 tests are now being offered at various sites throughout Island Health with an appointment. (Black Press Media file photo)