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

Monkeypox vaccine more widely available in B.C.

The ministry says that as of Wednesday, 61 cases of monkeypox had been identified in B.C., with 54 in Vancouver Coastal, three in Fraser Health and four on Vancouver Island. Of the 14,480 doses of vaccine B.C. has received, the ministry says about half had been administered to high-risk people by Monday.

Monkeypox vaccine more widely available in B.C.

Shooting in Newton results in homeowner discovering bullet holes at the back of the home

Mounties spoke with a homeowner who discovered bullet holes in the exterior of their residence.There were no injuries in the shooting. Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has taken conduct of the investigation, which is in the early stages.

Shooting in Newton results in homeowner discovering bullet holes at the back of the home

Langley shooting victims identified: IHIT

With permission of their families, the identities of the victims are being released. Paul David Wynn, 60, died outside the Creek Stone Place. Steven Furness, 43, died at the Langley Bus Loop.

Langley shooting victims identified: IHIT

Richmond RCMP respond to reports of a man smashing cars and threatening people

Upon arrival, frontline officers encountered an extremely irate man who threatened to use the metal tank as a weapon against them. The 56 year-old Richmond man was subsequently arrested under the Mental Health Act and taken to a local hospital.

Richmond RCMP respond to reports of a man smashing cars and threatening people

Hot but no emergency say B.C. officials

Environment Canada is maintaining heat warnings for most of B.C. and says 10 daily maximum temperature records were broken Wednesday as the province recorded the top dozen highest temperatures in Canada. At 42 C, Lytton was the hottest in the province and the country as the weather office says the village broke its previous record for the day of 40 C, set in 1939.

Hot but no emergency say B.C. officials

Prevent spread of monkeypox with safe sex: Tam

The World Health Organization declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern over the weekend. Tam, the chief public health officer, said there are 745 confirmed cases of the monkeypox reported in Canada and 99 per cent of those affected are men with a median age of 36.