public health

Wednesday December 6, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday December 6, 2017

Supervised injection site in works for downtown Hamilton

The city has endorsed a supervised injection site for downtown Hamilton but it’s up to a community agency to step up to run such a facility.

The city’s board of health endorsed the findings of a long-awaited study Monday that recommend adding at least one permanent site in the core for people to safely inject illegal drugs under the watchful eye of health professionals.

But the study also recommended the site be “integrated” with an existing agency that already offers “harm reduction” services, like needle exchanges or addiction treatment.

Hamilton’s public health unit will offer “in-kind” support for a supervised injection site, said medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, but she added it is expected the province will fund operations by a willing community agency.

Richardson said unspecified agencies in the downtown area have “informally expressed interest,” but added it may take several months before an application is completed and vetted by the government. (The province is expected to pay for operations, but the federal government also has to give an exemption for illegal drug use and possession on site.)

She wouldn’t speculate about which agencies will apply to run a supervised injection site, but two groups that already offer related services showed up Monday to urge city support.

Wesley Urban Ministries already runs a supervised consumption site for residents battling alcohol dependency, offers “harm reduction materials” for drug users and sexual health counselling, noted housing and homelessness director Dean Waterfield.

“We know practising harm reduction leads to further treatment, better health care and better neighbourhoods,” said Waterfield, who added 10 agency clients have died by drug overdose this year. He urged councillors to add a supervised injection site “to the tool box” of local agencies. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Tuesday April 26, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday April 26, 2016 Ticks that spread Lyme disease are in Hamilton, warns study Ticks that spreadÊLyme diseaseÊare in Hamilton warnsÊa studyÊaccusing the public health department of "under-reporting" the danger and giving "the false impression" acquiring the illness here is unlikely. "Lyme disease-carrying black-legged ticks pose a public health risk in the Dundas area and the surrounding Hamilton-Wentworth region," concludes the research byÊLyme OntarioÊpublished in the International Journal of Medical Sciences.Ê A Lyme Ontario researcher found 41 per cent of black-legged ticks collected in Dundas over two years were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi Ñ the bacteria that causes the disease. The results are in stark contrast to a report by Hamilton Public Health Services finding no infected ticks during a five-year period in an area 20 times the size, states the study. "We point out the difference between what the health unit is saying and what we found out in the field," said lead researcher John Scott. "There is a notable difference É of over 600 times. I would say their surveillance program isn't working." The study calls for tick and Lyme disease warning signs, deer management strategies and advisories to health-care providers.Ê "Public Health Services appreciates the work of local researchers with respect to black-legged ticks in Dundas," said Dr. Jessica Hopkins, an associate medical officer of health, in a statement. "We have just become aware of the recent publication and are in the process of understanding the study and its implications." Hamilton is not listed as a Lyme disease risk area byÊPublic Health Ontario.Ê Local doctors and hospitals were told "Hamilton is not an endemic area and acquiring Lyme disease in the Hamilton area is unlikely" in aÊmedical advisoryÊfrom the city's public health department in August 2013 Ñ the same time the Lyme Ontario researchers were finding infect

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday April 26, 2016

Ticks that spread Lyme disease are in Hamilton, warns study

Ticks that spread Lyme disease are in Hamilton warns a study accusing the public health department of “under-reporting” the danger and giving “the false impression” acquiring the illness here is unlikely.

“Lyme disease-carrying black-legged ticks pose a public health risk in the Dundas area and the surrounding Hamilton-Wentworth region,” concludes the research by Lyme Ontario published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences.

A Lyme Ontario researcher found 41 per cent of black-legged ticks collected in Dundas over two years were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi — the bacteria that causes the disease.

The results are in stark contrast to a report by Hamilton Public Health Services finding no infected ticks during a five-year period in an area 20 times the size, states the study.

“We point out the difference between what the health unit is saying and what we found out in the field,” said lead researcher John Scott. “There is a notable difference … of over 600 times. I would say their surveillance program isn’t working.”

The study calls for tick and Lyme disease warning signs, deer management strategies and advisories to health-care providers.

“Public Health Services appreciates the work of local researchers with respect to black-legged ticks in Dundas,” said Dr. Jessica Hopkins, an associate medical officer of health, in a statement. “We have just become aware of the recent publication and are in the process of understanding the study and its implications.”

Hamilton is not listed as a Lyme disease risk area by Public Health Ontario.

Local doctors and hospitals were told “Hamilton is not an endemic area and acquiring Lyme disease in the Hamilton area is unlikely” in a medical advisory from the city’s public health department in August 2013 — the same time the Lyme Ontario researchers were finding infected ticks.

“They are downplaying the health risks in this area,” said Stoney Creek Lyme patient Nancy Diklic. “I believe I was bit locally going on 11 years ago. To this day, the local public health unit says Hamilton is not an endemic area.”

She wants proper warnings so residents can take precautions such as covering exposed skin, using insect repellents, doing full bodychecks for ticks, showering within two hours of being outdoors and removing ticks within 24 to 36 hours. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Thursday July 3, 2014

Thursday July 3, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday July 3, 2014

Hamilton hospital parking will cost you up to $25 a day

For SaleHospital parking is up to $25 a day after both Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare raised their rates.

“It’s a bit rich,” said cancer patient Lionel Morton, who travels from Welland to Hamilton for treatment between two and four days a month and already thought the fees were a “ripoff.”

“They know they have a captive audience,” he says. “It’s not right.”

The price jumped by up to 25 per cent at the acute care hospitals, which are struggling with deficits and aging parking structures.

“We understand that represents hardship for some of our patients and we’re sensitive to that,” said Heather Pullen, spokesperson for HHS. “It’s a decision we make very carefully and we try not to do very often. But the cost of every aspect of our business rises all the time. … It’s a difficult choice, but it’s one we feel we have to make.”

For most of the acute care hospitals, the daily maximum is now $20 after being $15 for the last five years. Premium parking off Charlton Avenue at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the emergency lot at McMaster Children’s Hospital is $25, up from $20. The prices changed June 16 at HHS and April 1 at St. Joseph’s.

The rate for 30 minutes or less remains the same at $3.50 for the acute care hospitals.

The Canadian Medical Association Journal urged hospitals in 2011 to scrap paid parking, calling them “a user fee in disguise.”

“Parking fees are a barrier to health care and add avoidable stress to patients who have enough to deal with,” stated the editorial by Dr. Rajendra Kale, the editor-in-chief at the time.
However, the Ontario Hospital Association rejected that call, saying hospitals rely on parking for at least one per cent of their revenue.

“Every year, St. Joe’s, like many hospitals, face the continued pressure of bridging a gap between our annual funding provided by the Ministry of Health and our operating pressures like increased hydro bills or medical supplies,” said spokesperson Megan Bieksa. “One of the ways we generate revenue is through parking.”

St. Joseph’s needs to make up about $12 million to balance its $600-million budget for the fiscal year that started April 1. HHS has to find $25 million to keep its $1.2-billion budget in the black. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

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