BTS with CTV News Vancouver | Podcast

STORIES BY PENNY DAFLOS

• As B.C. decriminalizes hard drugs, users still face months-long waits for treatment

  As the B.C. government decriminalizes small amounts of hard drugs, critics note there are still not enough treatment resources for the users seeking them.

  

• Orthopaedic surgeries down 25% in B.C. public hospitals as private sector picks up slack

  Orthoopaedic surgeons report that they’re doing only three quarters of the surgeries they used to in B.C.'s public hospitals, with an increasing number of taxpayer-funded procedures carried out in private facilities

  

• B.C. toxic drug crisis: Fewer 911 calls as deaths continue

  BC Emergency Health Services saw a slight decline in 911 calls for overdose and drug toxicity last year, but some areas saw a dramatic increase, and the death rate doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

• Brothers killed by avalanche while heli-skiing in southeastern B.C.

  The two men killed by an avalanche while heli-skiing near Revelstoke, B.C., on Monday have been identified as brothers and business leaders from Pennsylvania.

• Culture of fear? Minister addresses muzzling, whistleblower concerns of B.C. health-care workers

  British Columbia’s Health Minister is responding to allegations of gag orders and muzzling of the province’s health-care workers after a public outcry and widespread discussion of the issue.

• B.C. health minister silent as muzzling criticism grows

  More B.C. health-care workers have spoken up publicly and on background confirming CTV News reporting on allegations of repercussions for speaking up about patient care and workplace conditions, but the health minister has not answered questions on the matter.

• Threats, discipline, fear: The muzzling of B.C. health-care workers

  Many British Columbia medical staffers are frustrated and even angry about what they describe as a culture of fear and silence when it comes to raising questions about the quality of care in the province, as well as other issues.

• 'A really big deal': UBC at risk of losing eye doctor training program

  British Columbia’s only program that trains eye surgeons is at risk of losing its ability to prepare more specialist doctors, CTV News has learned.

• Only 4 of 334 'protection officers' have been hired for B.C. hospitals

  Only four of the 334 “protection officers” announced for British Columbia hospitals in October have been hired, with most not expected to be on the job for months to come, CTV News has learned.

• Glen Clark no longer Pattison Group's president

  Former B.C. premier Glen Clark is no longer the president and chief operating officer of one of Canada’s largest private companies.

• 'It is a concern': 12 cases of XBB.1.5 COVID-19 variant found in B.C.

  The number of lab-confirmed cases of the new "Kraken" COVID-19 variant has more than doubled over the last week in British Columbia, according to the provincial health officer.

• B.C.'s stockpile of COVID treatments growing amid continued eligibility restrictions

  B.C.’s stockpile of COVID-19 anti-viral treatments has ballooned even further in as guidelines continue to restrict access to the drug despite ample supply.

• Living in B.C.: What will cost more, less, and the same in 2023

  After a 2022 marked by painful inflation levels, British Columbians can expect to some necessities to cost the same in 2023, with a handful being cheaper but unlikely to make up for food costs that’ll continue to rise.

• 'Now is not the time': B.C. faces growing backlash from health-care professionals over Bill 36

  As British Columbia’s health-care system verges on collapse, provincial officials have enacted sweeping changes to the oversight of medical professionals in a surprise move workers are denouncing as an unnecessary, years-long transition ripe for potential political interference.