Health

Victoria BC: VIHA Faces New Crisis 9 Deaths in Care Home

by Barbara McPherson | April 30, 2010 at 08:51 am

581 views | 14 Recommendations | 3 comments

On the heels of crises in health care on Vancouver Island, the Vancouver Island Health Authority is facing a new crisis in the deaths of nine people in a Victoria care home.

Apparently the elderly victims fell to an unexplained respiratory illness. Eleven more have fallen ill. Now health care worker at Glengarry Hospital has spoken out, saying she was ill in March with the same mystery symptoms. Two other staffers have also fallen ill with the mystery ailment.

Maureen Donaldson, 50, a care attendant in the unit -- where the nine people died and 11 more were infected -- said she became ill a month ago with the same respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms that she saw afflict residents.

Diseases Ruled Out

Influenzas A, B, H1N1(swine flu)
Legionella
Norovirus

Recent Health Issues in VIHA Hospitals

Victoria General may have exposed hundreds of patients to Hepatitis B, C and HIV virus due to improper cleaning of endoscopes
Nanaimo Regional had two confirmed deaths and more ill due to C.difficile, a bacterium found in feces.

The provincial government has been criticised for its handling and bugetting of BC's public hospitals.

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Amy Judd

at 09:31 on April 30th, 2010

gosh, what is going on on the Island?

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:17 on April 30th, 2010

We have had a few problems with hygiene and proper cleaning of equipment in Alberta as well. When governments cut budgets and overwork health workers, this is the result.