National

Health complaints top B.C. advocate's list

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Oct, 2022 01:35 PM

VICTORIA - Complaints about British Columbia's health-care system to the provincial ombudsperson have reached a 10-year high.

Jay Chalke's annual report for 2021-2022 says the office received almost 1,300 complaints or inquiries focused on programs and services provided by the Ministry of Health.

The figure is more than 15 per cent of all 8,215 complaints lodged with the office in that period.

Chalke says in a news release that health care was top of mind for those who reached out to his office, with complaints ranging from visitor restrictions for long-term care to surgery delays, and COVID-19 measures to quality of care.

It says the Ministry of Health, the Insurance Corporation of B.C. and the Ministry of Children and Family Development were the top three most complained about public bodies.

Among the problems Chalke's office says it solved was that of a lottery winner whose $150,000 cheque was withheld because the B.C. Lottery Corp. tried to insist on signed waivers from friends who were with the woman when she bought the ticket.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

'Still a good day' despite Artemis delay: minister

Champagne, who was in Florida for a two-day trip that included meetings with Canadian astronauts and NASA officials, got up at 1:30 a.m. to head to the launch pad in Cape Canaveral only to see the mission delayed. Canada is contributing a new robotic arm, the Canadarm 3, to the Gateway space station that NASA eventually plans to put in orbit around the moon.

'Still a good day' despite Artemis delay: minister

Ambulance review after report of B.C. infant death

A statement from BC Emergency Health Services says in response to questions about the death in Barriere that it received a call to respond to a patient at a home in the community north of Kamloops on Thursday. It says the closest available ambulance was immediately dispatched, and local firefighters were also requested to assist with the call.

Ambulance review after report of B.C. infant death

$60M back-to-school fund for B.C. families

Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside says families are already struggling with rising costs due to inflation and the government's fund aims to take the sting out of costs associated with the return to school next month. Whiteside says every school district in the province will receive a minimum of $250,000.

$60M back-to-school fund for B.C. families

VPD identify suspects in assault

The attack occurred outside a convenience store near Commercial Drive and East 10th Avenue in the early hours of July 31. Shortly after midnight, a 42-year-old man stopped to buy a slurpee. There was a brief verbal confrontation between the man and another person who was waiting in line, and when the victim left the store he was jumped by three men.

VPD identify suspects in assault

Floods, drought a major risk to Canada's economy

The report, titled "Aquanomics," is being published today by GHD, a global engineering and architecture services firm. GHD's Canadian water lead Don Holland said there are lots of reports that count up insured losses and physical damage after major events like last fall's atmospheric river in British Columbia.

Floods, drought a major risk to Canada's economy

Cruise ship stuck in B.C. over tugboat strike

Celebrity Cruises says the Celebrity Eclipse, which had been due to depart Sunday afternoon, is unable to leave the Port of Vancouver without the tugs and staff are "working diligently" with local authorities to resolve the situation so the ship can sail.