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British
Columbia
Sex misconduct charges
VANCOUVER —
Family Physician Dr Gabriel YS Yong has been charged
with three more incidents of indecent assault involving
female patients dating back more than twenty years.
Dr Yong is currently prohibited from seeing female patients
or any male patients under 19 years of age, due to two
counts of sexual misconduct involving two teenage ladies
levied against him in April 2005. The BC College of
Physicians and Surgeons told the CBC that Dr Yong shall
be allowed to continue practising until the current
charges he's facing are proven in court. LD
Hospital
super-debate
VANCOUVER —
The regional health authority for northern Vancouver
Island has recommended a new 'super' hospital for the
area, with the intentions of replacing older hospitals
in the communities of Comox and Campbell River. The
government has been discussing this proposal for some
time, however some groups oppose the plan, preferring
upgrades to existing facilities. If the government goes
ahead with the new 'super' hospital, upgrades will be
granted in order to keep existing hospitals functioning
for three to five years, after which they shall be used
for community-based health services. LD
Alberta
Screening our kids
CALGARY —
After volleying a beach-ball with kids in an Edmonton
gymnasium, Health Minister Iris Evans announced some
new programs to ensure a healthy future for youngsters.
Ms Evans said that $30 million will be invested over
the next three years to screen infants for cystic fibrosis
and other disorders, the first program of its kind in
Canada. In addition, $6 million is earmarked for child
nutrition and fitness education. GE
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(Can't
get no) Satisfaction
CALGARY —
The Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA)
will release the results of an extensive survey measuring
just how satisfied the province's citizens are with
health services. More than 4,700 Albertans were polled.
The results are considered valuable in that they inform
healthcare experts, health regions and administrators
about ordinary citizens' concerns. Dr John Cowell, chief
executive officer of the HQCA, will announce the finding
early this month, highlighting the province's successes
and shortcomings. This is the third such survey conducted
by the HQCA. GE
Manitoba
Health Ministry
not for "Sale"
MELITA —
Longtime Health Minister Tim Sale handed over his portfolio
to Theresa Oswald. Premier Gary Doer's appointment of
Ms Oswald makes her the third current female health
minister in Canada along with Alberta's Iris Evans and
Nunavut's Leona Aglukkaq. Ms Oswald is the former chair
of the All-Party Healthy Kids task force, which inspired
the "In Motion" program. The program was designed to
encourage Manitobans to get active. HA
Hot
Spot
Ontario
Real-life ER drama
KITCHENER —
Ontario emergency services crisis nearly entered a new
phase of severity. In Kitchener, Health Minister George
Smitherman announced an eleventh hour rescue of the
Grand River Hospital emergency department. The ER was
to shut its doors on the morning of October 1, as doctors
in the department threatened to quit due to concerns
of overwork, patient safety and remuneration. For more
on Ontario's emergency crisis, see page one. JJM
Contributors: Hector Andrews, Simon
Biggar, Donna Byers, Lance Davies, Geoff Everett, Thane
Jenkins, Paige Lee, Julie J Mercier, Deana Stokes Sullivan,
Brent Woodford and Henrietta Yan.
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