In recent months, there have been three exciting provincial government announcements related to healthcare in Kitimat:
September 18, 2024: Better patient care, more nurses coming to B.C.
- Patients will experience improved care and nurses will experience a stronger health-care system with new nurse-to-patient ratios.
- A new recruitment strategy, along with expanded education opportunities and supports for nurses, will enable the implementation of ratios and make B.C. a leader in Canada in terms of places to practise as a nurse.
- Nurses accepting positions in high-needs areas, starting with emergency departments, will receive as much as $25,000 as a recruitment incentive.
September 9, 2024: New CT scanner to improve diagnostic imaging at Kitimat General Hospital
- The project represents a $4.7 million capital investment into improving healthcare in Kitimat.
- The new unit and a newly renovated department will allow the hospital to continue to deliver a range of clinical and diagnostic services that support primary, community and specialised services.
- Improved access to CT will provide physicians with the information to diagnose and treat patients sooner, and potentially further reduce the need for patient travel.
August 7, 2024: Expanded travel programs support cancer patients
- More cancer patients, especially those living in rural and remote areas, will benefit from improved access to life-saving cancer care as the Province further invests in medical-travel supports, reducing costs and financial barriers.
- The Province is providing an additional $20 million over two years to the Canadian Cancer Society to support travel and lodging for cancer patients. This funding builds on a previous investment of $10 million in 2023.
Photo: Province of British Columbia Flickr.
WRITTEN BY:
Jessie Levene
