John Kidder (Green Party) provided the following answers to our Health Care Questions:

1. Over the past ten years, rural B.C. communities have experienced a gradual erosion of health services and reduced accessibility to timely health care. Acute doctor shortages, scheduled closures of emergency departments, increased waitlist times, cutbacks in community nursing services, and difficulties with transportation to specialized services in regional centres are indicative of a health care system unable to meet the needs of rural patients. Continue reading →

Jackie Tegart (BC Liberal Party) provided the following answers to our Health Care Questions:

1. Over the past ten years, rural B.C. communities have experienced a gradual erosion of health services and reduced accessibility to timely health care. Acute doctor shortages, scheduled closures of emergency departments, increased waitlist times, cutbacks in community nursing services, and difficulties with transportation to specialized services in regional centres are indicative of a health care system unable to meet the needs of rural patients.
If you are elected to the legislature in the 2013 provincial elections, what will you and your party do to reverse this trend and improve accessibility for rural residents?

Thank you for the opportunity to share some thoughts and work done by the BC Liberals. 
As a Council member for the Village of Ashcroft, I certainly have first hand knowledge of the challenges regarding health services faced by small, rural communities. I hope I will have Continue reading →

The following answers to our Health Care Questions were received from Michael Beauclair (BC Conservative Party):

1. Over the past ten years, rural B.C. communities have experienced a gradual erosion of health services and reduced accessibility to timely health care. Acute doctor shortages, scheduled closures of emergency departments, increased waitlist times, cutbacks in community nursing services, and difficulties with transportation to specialized services in regional centres are indicative of a health care system unable to meet the needs of rural patients.
If you are elected to the legislature in the 2013 provincial elections, what will you and your party do to reverse this trend and improve accessibility for rural residents?

BCCP Policy
5.4.5. Studying other health care systems world wide to look for ways to improve our own, including ways to reduce increasing wait times. 

One the questions that I ask as a tax-payer is what do Hospital Trustees and Administration do? Interior Health has become a monolithic entity that non-efficient and ” Top Continue reading →

SOHC has decided to change its name. As of March 18, our new name will be Support Our Health Care instead of Save Our Hospital Coalition.

Back in April of 2012, when we first started, we focused on the nighttime ER closures and were concerned that this was indicative of a hospital in decline. After eleven months working to improve healthcare in our community, we still support the need for 24/7 emergency service. We now realize, however, that this is only one component of a better healthcare system for everyone. Continue reading →

BC Emergency Room doctors are speaking out. Please visit their website and send a message to our provincial government in support of their BC ER Plan.

The following is the speech given on February 25, 2013 by invited guest, Lynn Pelly, Executive Director of Princeton Community Services:

“I’m pleased to have the opportunity this evening to review some of the services currently available to seniors in our community. Princeton & District Community Services has been in existence since 1973. In the 40 years since its inception, the focus has been on the needs of seniors and persons with disabilities. Much has changed over time but our focus remains firm. Continue reading →

If these proposals by the BC Pharmacy Association are accepted, they could mean significant savings to our healthcare costs.

• Trial Prescription Program
• Treatment of Minor Ailments
• Medication Adherence Services
• Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetes
• Community Pharmacist-led Anticoagulation Management Service
• Pharmacist-led Smoking Cessation Services
• Asthma Consultation Service

For the full article, visit www.bcpharmacy.ca

This is potentially very good news for our community.

The application for Canada Student Loan forgiveness for family doctors and nurses who serve in a rural or remote community is now available online at http://www.canlearn.ca/eng/after/forgiveness/index.shtml. 

From: The Town of Princeton and RDOS

March 1, 2013

On Thursday, February 28 healthcare practitioners and community representatives met with Interior Health (IHA) to discuss the implementation of an improved and sustainable model of healthcare for Princeton and District. This consultation is an IHA initiative with active participation by members of the community and all healthcare practitioners, including Dr. Sandhu who will be joining our community in August. Continue reading →