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British Columbia
VANCOUVER
— They
call these the golden years? A recent provincial
report says that while BC seniors are among the healthiest
in Canada, they're also the most likely to kill themselves.
Researchers surmise that elevated suicide rates are
linked to longer lifespans, which leave elderly people
vulnerable to illnesses that cause depression. In total,
seniors account for about 12% of all suicides in Canada.
JKG
VICTORIA
— A
stroke of good fortune Those recovering from
strokes and brain injuries will have a new inpatient
rehabilitation facility at their disposal. The facility,
which received $1.26 million from the province, will
operate at Victoria General Hospital and will be able
to handle twenty patients at a time, with an average
stay of six to eight weeks. The hospital predicts they'll
treat about 150 patients a year. JKG
Alberta
EDMONTON
— Cash
injection needed Officials with the Alberta Cancer
Board have warned that only a national drug program
can deal with the staggering rise in the cost of new
cancer drugs. The board says that its drug costs have
increased by over 500% in the last 10 years. By way
of example, Dr Tony Fields, vice-president of medical
affairs for the board, observed that the cetuximab injection
(Erbitux) for colorectal cancer costs more than $4,000
US per month. GH
CALGARY
— A
semi-private solution The first healthcare facility
in the Calgary Health Region to be operated as a public
private partnership opened its doors on June 21. The
South Calgary Health Centre was built in partnership
with Bentall Real Estate Services, which will lease
it to the region for $800,000 annually. The region hopes
the facility will ease the strain on local ERs by providing
community services like family planning, speech language
pathology, renal therapy, as well as rehab, mental health,
asthma and diabetes clinics. GH
Saskatchewan
SASKATOON
— Spare
four dollars for a coffee? Hospital cafeteria
coffee just got a whole lot more interesting -- and
expensive. Royal University Hospital has decided that
a Starbucks franchise will be their ticket to improved
patient care. The franchise will cost $35,000, but the
hospital defends the move saying they'll haul in about
$100,000 in annual profits (7% goes back to Starbucks),
which it will plough straight back into patient services.
The franchise will open in September. CS
FORT
QU'APPELLE — Prairie
healing A new hospital specifically for aboriginal
people has opened in the southern Saskatchewan town
of Fort Qu'Appelle. The All Nations Healing Hospital
has 13 acute care beds, one palliative care bed, a large
outpatient and diagnostic area, as well as a sweatlodge
and traditional healing room. The new facility, which
replaces the 70-year-old Fort Qu'Appelle Indian Hospital,
was built with funding from both the provincial and
federal governments. CS
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Manitoba
RESTON
— Ms
Dobbs takes a stand An elderly Manitoba woman
has started a petition to abolish the province's regional
health authorities. Seventy-three-year-old Sheila Dobbs
claims that Manitoba's healthcare has gone downhill
since the authorities were created. She cites the situation
in her hometown of Reston as an example of the decline:
the hospital there has been replaced by a clinic, which
is only open three days a week. Ms Dobbs' petition already
has 107 signatures. CS
Ontario
TORONTO
— Little
ones get jabbed free In July, the Ontario government
will roll out the first phase of its recently announced
free vaccination programme, which adds pneumonia, chicken
pox and meningitis to the list of vaccines covered by
the province. The government estimates the programme
will cost $156 million over three years and save Ontario
parents $675 per child. PB
TORONTO
— Paeds
for two In an attempt to keep two cardiac surgery
programmes in Toronto and Ottawa open, the Ontario government
is asking a prominent Ottawa heart surgeon to oversee
a joint programme. Dr Wilbert Keon has agreed to help
implement the linked pediatric cardiac surgery program
between Toronto's Hospital for Children and the Children's
Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa. PB
Quebec
MONTREAL
— Beware
of the bug A study in the June 8 issue of the
Canadian Medical Association Journal has blown the lid
off what some are calling a dangerous cover up. At least
79 patients at a Montreal-area hospital died last year
after being infected by Clostridium difficile. The bacterium
is resistant to most antibiotics and can be spread through
human contact. Quebec's Health Minister, Philippe Couillard,
has come under fire after admitting that the government
knew about the problem but failed to warn the public.
CS
QUEBEC —
It'll cost
you Fees for
Quebec's provincial health insurance plan will be going
up as of July 1. The hike is in line with Mr Couillard's
projections for healthcare spending. Seniors and social
assistance recipients won't have to shell out more but
the rest of the two million Quebecers on the plan will
see their premium rise by 7% -- from $460 to $494 annually.
CS
Contributors: Paula Baker, Gail
Helgason, Jacqui Clydesdale, Joan Eyolfson Cadham, Jane
George, Jason K Gondziola,, Bill McGuire, Brian Hoyle,
Deanna Stokes-Sullivan, Carla Sparks
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