VICTORIA – The provincial government has appointed Gordon Barefoot as the new chair of the Fraser Health Authority.

COQUITLAM – Patients from across Fraser Health with mental health challenges will get the best support possible with the provision of a supportive and home-like environment, announced Health Minister George Abbott at the official opening of Cottonwood Lodge.

VANCOUVER – British Columbians who experience stroke-related symptoms will now have better access to care thanks to a $500,000 government grant awarded to the Heart and Stroke Foundation to launch their innovative Stroke Charter in emergency rooms across the province.

VICTORIA – The provincial government has appointed David Thompson as the new chair of Vancouver Coastal Health.

VICTORIA – Government has awarded the Ts’Kw’aylaxw First Nation $28,498 and the Lytton First Nation $30,000 as part of a $250,000 provincewide initiative to increase the number of Aboriginal nurses and improve nursing services in Aboriginal communities, announced Health Minister George Abbott.

VICTORIA – Eleven conversation starters, on topics ranging from the Canada Health Act to end-of-life care, were posted today to the Conversation on Health website.

VICTORIA – Over 5,000 people have now signed up to take part in the Conversation on Health, said Parliamentary Secretary for the Conversation on Health and Langley MLA Mary Polak. As of today, more than 5,100 people have registered for public and professional sessions being held in communities across the province.

VICTORIA – As a result of international research, commencing Jan. 1, 2007 the recommended number of injections protecting B.C. children against pneumococcal diseases, such as pneumonia, is being reduced to three doses from four.

TRAIL - An innovative pilot project launched last year by the provincial government, the BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) and the Interior Health Authority (IHA) that provides specialized critical care transport to patients has now been formally endorsed as a regular service in the Kootenay-Boundary Health Service Area (KBHSA).

VANCOUVER – Patients in British Columbia will benefit from hundreds more elective hip and knee surgeries, as well as other diagnostic and surgical procedures, with an additional $25 million being made available to the province’s health authorities, announced Health Minister George Abbott.

VICTORIA – The first two of 16 regional Conversation on Health forums will kick off in Kamloops and Surrey in February 2007, announced Health Minister George Abbott, as the provincial government released information on all the regional public forum dates.

VICTORIA – Patient care and safety will be improved by making medication histories available to all authorized health professionals in hospitals and designated mental health facilities through access to PharmaNet, announced Health Minister George Abbott.

VICTORIA – December 1 is World AIDS Day with events taking place across British Columbia to mark the day. World AIDS Day acknowledges people living with HIV in B.C. and around the world, and also recognizes organizations and volunteers that work to help in the fight against AIDS.

VICTORIA – According to 2006 estimates in the Canadian Cancer Statistics report, British Columbia men and women have the lowest mortality rates in Canada.

VICTORIA – The BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) is among the leading emergency medical service agencies in Canada to adopt and provide its paramedics with training on the new cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation guidelines.

PRINCE GEORGE – Students are getting a lesson in life-saving thanks to a CPR program launched today in two area secondary schools.

VANCOUVER – Health Minister George Abbott today officially opened two new radiation therapy vaults at the BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority.

VANCOUVER – Influenza immunization clinics open today at public health offices throughout the province, providing free vaccinations to eligible British Columbians in higher risk groups, announced Health Minister George Abbott.

VICTORIA – The British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) has identified three B.C. companies as the successful proponents to provide fixed-wing aircraft services for its air ambulance program following a competitive solicitation process.