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

Ng, Tai chat amid Canada-U.S. trade tensions

Mary Ng met virtually Tuesday with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to talk about a number of festering trade irritants, including Canada's "significant concern" with a proposed tax credit for electric vehicles.

Ng, Tai chat amid Canada-U.S. trade tensions

Conversion therapy bill clears Commons

A government bill seeking to ban conversion therapy has cleared the House of Commons and is on its way to the Senate. Erin O'Toole had been set to once again allow his caucus to have a free vote on the bill, but also pledged that his MPs would work to get it passed quickly.

Conversion therapy bill clears Commons

'Regrowth' of Greens aim of new interim leader

Amita Kuttner, the new interim Green leader, says they will be ready to take tough disciplinary action to deal with party members who "have been at each other's throats." The astrophysicist, who is nonbinary, says they want to "listen and love" to "heal" the party, which has been riven by infighting and accusations of racism and antisemitism.

'Regrowth' of Greens aim of new interim leader

Boeing out of Canadian fighter-jet competition

The official announcement from Public Services and Procurement Canada comes nearly a week after The Canadian Press first reported Boeing had been told its bid for the $19-billion fighter-jet contract did not meet Canada's requirements.

Boeing out of Canadian fighter-jet competition

Flood warnings issued for B.C. rivers

Flood warnings have been issued for several major rivers in British Columbia's Fraser Valley and Interior following a series of major storms that are crossing the province. The B.C. government's River Forecast Centre has issued warnings around the Tulameen, Similkameen, Coldwater and Lower Nicola rivers, as well as Spius Creek.

Flood warnings issued for B.C. rivers

32 year old woman victim in hit and run near Science World: VPD

The victim, a 32-year-old woman, was crossing Quebec Street at Central Street around 10:20 p.m. on November 27 when she was struck by a vehicle that was heading south. Though the driver fled, significant debris, including a driver-side mirror, were left behind on the road.