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NEWS RELEASE | |
For Immediate Release 2020PREM0050-001694 Sept. 9, 2020 |
Office of the Premier Ministry of Health |
Investment brings new support to those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and communities where they live | |
VICTORIA – The Province is investing $1.6 billion in a fall and winter preparedness plan that will significantly build upon and strengthen measures that respond to the health-care requirements of COVID-19. The plan will provide new support to seniors in long-term care homes and assisted-living facilities, by ensuring more British Columbians than ever before can get a flu shot, and by reducing the chance for transmission of COVID-19 in B.C. hospitals. “The actions we are taking today are a big step to help protect everyone in our province as we head into the fall, and in doing that, will also help lessen the impact the pandemic has had on our economy,” said Premier John Horgan. “We know people have stepped up to stop the spread, and right now we need good people to step forward to help deliver these life-saving initiatives.” The Government of B.C. is dedicating $44.1 million to launch the Health Career Access Program and recruit an estimated 7,000 health-care workers in long-term care homes and assisted-living facilities throughout the province. The program will provide a path for approximately 3,000 applicants who may not previously have had health-care experience to receive on-the-job training. New hires in the program will start in a health-care support worker position and receive paid training that leads to full qualification as a health-care assistant. “It’s anticipated that up to 7,000 health-care workers will be hired this fall and winter,” Premier Horgan said. “We’re looking to people who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, particularly those who were employed in the hospitality industry. They understand service. They understand the importance of treating people as individuals and they know it’s essential to treat people with respect and dignity. Those critical core skills, with our specialized training, will provide them with a rewarding, well-paying career that will make a significant and positive impact on our health-care system and the seniors who rely on it.” It is a massive human resources undertaking that benefits the B.C. health-care system and economy. “Expanding the number of health-care assistants in our province will significantly strengthen the level of care in long-term care homes,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The Health Career Access Program will help people get trained for some of the most important jobs in B.C. These jobs ensure seniors get the quality care they need and deserve – 7,000 new health-care workers will make a huge difference in the lives of our seniors.” To further protect vulnerable British Columbians, the Province is providing $374 million to bolster public health measures, including significantly building out the fall flu immunization campaign. As part of this, 45,000 Fluzone-High Dose immunizations will be made available to all long-term care and assisted living residents. Fluzone-High Dose is a higher dose vaccine designed specifically to protect people over 65 from influenza. An additional 450,000 influenza vaccine doses will be made available in the 2020-21 influenza season, for a total of approximately two million doses. “The COVID-19 pandemic makes it more important than ever to protect yourself and your family from influenza,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer. “By getting immunized against influenza, you’re protecting yourself and those who are vulnerable to complications from the flu. Staying healthy also helps to reduce strain on our health-care system as we deal with COVID-19. Getting the flu shot is safe and effective, and this year more than ever, I ask everyone who can to get a flu shot.” The Government of B.C. is also dedicating $42.3 million to ease the pressures off B.C. hospitals and reduce the chance of COVID-19 transmission in the hospitals. Hospital at Home, an innovative program that has succeeded in Canada and around the world, allows patients who meet the criteria to be offered 24/7 care at home rather than being admitted to hospital. Through in-person and virtual visits, patients will receive safe, effective care from nurses and physicians experienced in hospital medicine and acute care. Hospital at Home will launch through the Victoria General Hospital, then through additional hospitals over the coming months. The Health Career Access program, enhanced fall immunization campaign and Hospital at Home are vital new additions to the B.C. pandemic response, but do not stand alone. A constant focus is to ensure that strength is added where necessary, and that it supports or enhances existing initiatives. “On April 20, we announced help to rural, remote and Indigenous communities so they have access to critical health care during COVID-19 and beyond,” Premier Horgan said. “On Aug. 12, we announced we were hiring approximately 600 additional health professionals to increase contact tracing capacity. To date, 86 have been hired, approximately 200 are in the interview and offer stage, and the remainder are in the screening phase. Work to increase testing continues, and this fall, lab capacity will allow for 20,000 tests per day. The Ministry of Health also continues to ensure the Province is equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE).” Through its experience with COVID-19, the Province has learned and adapted to ensure its strengths and resources are developed and positioned to protect and keep safe those who are most vulnerable to the virus. “All of these initiatives support our ongoing efforts to keep British Columbians healthy and stop the spread,” Premier Horgan said. Learn More: To view the presentation, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID-19_capacity_modelling.pdf To read the complete COVID-19 health-sector plan for fall/winter 2020-21, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COVID-19_fall-winter_preparation.pdf For more information on the Health Career Access Program, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/careersinhealth For the latest medical updates, including case counts, prevention, risks and testing, visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/ For non-health related information, including financial, child care and education supports, travel, transportation and essential service information, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19 Four backgrounders follow. |
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Contacts: | |
Jen Holmwood Press Secretary Deputy Communications Director Office of the Premier Jen.Holmwood@gov.bc.ca 250 818-4881 | Ministry of Health Communications 250 952-1887 (media line) |
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BACKGROUNDER 1 | |
For Immediate Release 2020PREM0050-001694 Sept. 9, 2020 |
Office of the Premier Ministry of Health |
Budget allocation | |
The Ministry of Health has received approval to access an operating budget increase of up to $1.6 billion in operating funding and a capital budget increase of $150 million in 2020-21 to respond to the health-care requirements of COVID-19. This includes: $374 million for public health measures:
$416.6 million for community and long-term care measures:
$783.9 million for recovery and increased health capacity:
$150 million for renovations and equipment to support the health-care system to respond to COVID-19:
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Contacts: | |
Jen Holmwood Press Secretary Deputy Communications Director Office of the Premier Jen.Holmwood@gov.bc.ca 250 818-4881 | Ministry of Health Communications 250 952-1887 (media line) |
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BACKGROUNDER 2 | |
For Immediate Release 2020PREM0050-001694 Sept. 9, 2020 |
Office of the Premier Ministry of Health |
Health Career Access Program | |
Health-care support workers provide non-clinical supports to patients and residents, including housekeeping and help with mealtime. Health-care assistants provide front-line personal care to seniors, people living with disabilities, people with chronic illnesses or receiving palliative care. Health-care assistants can work in long-term care and assisted living facilities, provide community home support and contribute to care in hospitals. The starting salary for health-care support workers is approximately $20 an hour. Health-care assistants earn approximately $23 an hour. How the Health Career Access Program works First step: Submit an expression of interest by providing your first and last name, email address, postal code, telephone number and preferred health authority region where you want to work. Applicant information will be reviewed and qualified applicants will be connected to an employer. This will take about three weeks. Second step: Complete basic training. All health-care support workers will receive basic training on the job, provided by the employer. The core of this training will be standardized provincially to ensure that new hires have everything they need to start working safely and effectively. Third step: Additional training. Employees are entered into a structured training program delivered as a partnership between the employer and an established post-secondary institution. Upon completion of the program, the employee earns a recognized post-secondary credential and is eligible to register as a health-care assistant. Applicants must demonstrate the following qualifications:
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Contacts: | |
Jen Holmwood Press Secretary Deputy Communications Director Office of the Premier Jen.Holmwood@gov.bc.ca 250 818-4881 | Ministry of Health Communications 250 952-1887 (media line) |
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BACKGROUNDER 3 | |
For Immediate Release 2020PREM0050-001694 Sept. 9, 2020 |
Office of the Premier Ministry of Health |
Fall influenza campaign | |
Each year, about 3,500 Canadians die from influenza and its complications across Canada. Hospitalized patients and seniors in residential care are more vulnerable to influenza than healthy adults. The flu shot is free in B.C. to people at risk from complications, and their close contacts:
The nasal spray flu vaccine is provided free at public health clinics and physicians’ offices to children two to 17 years of age who are at risk of serious illness from influenza or who live with someone who is at risk. |
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Contacts: | |
Jen Holmwood Press Secretary Deputy Communications Director Office of the Premier Jen.Holmwood@gov.bc.ca 250 818-4881 | Ministry of Health Communications 250 952-1887 (media line) |
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BACKGROUNDER 4 | |
For Immediate Release 2020PREM0050-001694 Sept. 9, 2020 |
Office of the Premier Ministry of Health |
Personal protective equipment (PPE) | |
The Ministry of Health continues to ensure the Province is equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE). The following PPE has arrived in B.C. from March to Aug. 31:
Items and equipment that have recently arrived are put through a testing process to make sure product meets or exceeds safety requirements before being used in B.C.’s health-care system. |
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Contacts: | |
Jen Holmwood Press Secretary Deputy Communications Director Office of the Premier Jen.Holmwood@gov.bc.ca 250 818-4881 | Ministry of Health Communications 250 952-1887 (media line) |