GHCS News

The Galiano Health Care Society received sudden notice that our First Call Nurse coverage (emergency coverage on weekends) would cease mid-November. There was no advance warning or negotiations. This means that we now have three weekends a month without on-island emergency medical care.

911 services with the first responders and paramedics will continue to operate, however they will not have access to the emergency room at the clinic, nor will there be access to after-hours medications.

Dr Carlson will continue with her on call services one weekend a month, but on other weekends there will only be an off-island doctor available via phone.

This cut in services is very concerning. You can take action by contacting Island Health and the Minister of Health to express your opinion.

please review the press release from Island Health regarding Galiano’s on call coverage cut. 2014-11 VIHA HCC-FC

We ask you to also review the formal response from GHCS along with [Read More…]

The Capital Regional District has approved a referendum on behalf of the Galiano Health Care Society – to be held on November 15, 2014.

The GHCS owns and operates the Health Care Centre building.  Right now we have a great team of health professionals provided by VIHA and using the Centre to serve our community.  However VIHA is unwilling to provide sufficient funding to cover the costs of managing and operating the Health Care Centre itself.  Each year our Board has energetically fundraised and sourced donations to make up a shortfall of approximately $60,000 just to keep our doors open.

That effort is proving more challenging due to economic constraints together with rising maintenance costs. We have reached the point where the Board has had to make the difficult decision to go to the community for support via a property tax levy.

See the attached document for answers to some common questions people are [Read More…]

Thank you to the Galiano community for your enthusiasm and support for the Nunsense performances this weekend. A big thank you to the cast – Lynette Salton, Sherry Harapat, Elaine Hazelrigg, Julie Kehler and Richard Helvig. An equally large thank you to Linda and Judy for organizing/coordinating/juggling/encouraging excellence and entertainment before, during and after the events.

The Board of Directors thanks everyone for their generous support through attendance and cash donations – it will make a big difference – positively – for our health centre this year.

Now we can start preparing for the Wine and Beer Festival on August 9th!

Dr Erin Carlson has been busy with volunteers in the new Galiano Clinic Garden Plot – located at the rear of the Lion’s Field in the new community allotment garden area. Here’s a peek at some early harvest from our garden. If you’re interested in helping in the garden or would like to sample the produce, let one of the staff at the Clinic know and they’ll point you in the right direction. Hmmm. I wonder what will be growing over the summer?

The Ministry of Health is seeking input from health practitioners and the general public about the integration of Nurse Practitioners into the primary health care system. If you have five minutes to spare and would like to influence how Nurse Practitioners are utilized in BC, click on the link to the anonymous survey NP Integration Survey (Survey available until Oct 29)