Comox Valley Hospital: read the series about flawed planning, low morale
No word yet on the promised new long-term care beds
Photo by George Le Masurier BY GEORGE LE MASURIER s a strike by care workers at two Comox Valley assisted living facilities enters its sixth day, many people are wondering what happened to the 151 additional long-term care beds promised by Island...
Despite Island Health’s efforts, overcapacity still plagues hospitals, stresses staff
The one-year-old Comox Valley and Campbell River hospitals have been plagued with problems caused by overcapacity; too many patients for the size of the hospitals. Island Health’s efforts haven’t yet solved the problem.
Vaccine available for the virus headed our way
Vancouver Island health care professionals say a serious virus will hit the Comox Valley in a few weeks that will threaten the lives of those most vulnerable. Fortunately, they have a vaccine.
24 new care and respite beds opened at St. Joe’s
St. Joseph’s has transformed the third floor of its former acute care hospital into a temporary but attractive long-term care facility, until Island Health can build a promised 150 new beds in the Comox Valley. The announcement of contracts on the new beds has been delayed
ALC patients temporarily moving to St. Joseph’s
The former St. Joseph’s Hospital is being called back into action. Some patients in acute care beds at the Comox Valley Hospital, who are waiting for residential care beds, will move to St. Joseph’s to alleviate the new facility’s chronic overcapacity
A caregiver’s hard decision: help wanted
Caring for her husband who suffers with dementia, Comox resident Delores Broten struggles with a hard decision. He’s falling now, but should she approve strapping him into a wheelchair? It seems inhumane, and she’s reaching out for help.
The buck (doesn’t) stop here
The key to maintaining the public’s confidence in its government departments and agencies, is the concept of public accountability. The gap between the serious nature of the issues presented by community representatives and the response provided by Island Health is staggering. Island Health acknowledges its accountability but does it, in fact, hold itself accountable?
Seniors groups criticize VIHA RFP as too little, too late
In presentations to the Island Health board of directors, three Comox Valley seniors advocacy groups criticized the recent residential care bed RFP, said Island Health doesn’t provide us with an equitable share of resources and exposed mistreatment of seniors and a new hospital that isn’t clean
The Island Health board meeting that wasn’t a board meeting
Without public notice, Island Health holds its March board meeting a day early in Victoria, doesn’t address Comox Valley Hospital issues at “public forum” in Courtenay. But seniors health care advocates make passionate pleas for more resources
Record 178 patients at CVH, VIHA board in Courtenay
The Island Health board will hear presentations from individuals and community groups tomorrow in Courtenay about health care issues in the Comox Valley and wider region. But little has been done so far to address concerns at the Comox Valley Hospital where a record high 178 admitted patients was recorded Friday.
120 complex care beds proposed for Comox Valley
The Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health) has reissued a Request for Proposals to add 120 new beds for patients requiring a complex level of care in the Comox Valley. Island Health says it hopes to award contracts for the new beds in early May and expects they will open for patients sometime in 2020.
Island Health board to meet in Courtenay on March 29
The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA, or Island Health) board of directors will hold their March meeting in the Comox Valley. It’s an opportunity for Comox Valley and Campbell River residents flummoxed by the myriad errors in planning the new hospitals to ask questions or even make presentations to the directors and Island Health executives.