Look what Nova Scotia manages to PUBLICLY report about it's primary care waiting list. In BC? We get nothing. To get any data, we can wait for cherry-picked scraps from MOH or wait months for FOI requests. Widespread lack of transparency is enabling health system failure in BC.

BC CT and MRI waiting times for 2025, via FOI. The FOI unfortunately only includes median wait times (i.e. half the people waited longer than this), though best practice is to also report 90th percentile wait times and % meeting targets. More: healthdatabc.ca/wait/imaging...

Health system getting you down? Problem solved!

Patient Safety and Learning Systems are protected from public scrutiny so health care professionals have “full, open and candid discussions” on patient safety, according to BC’s health ministry. thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2026/07...

I need more information. This seems damning, but I can't tell from an infographic.

its really important to recognize that the BCNDP government does not give the tiniest of fucks about the unregulated drug deaths emergency, unless it hurts them politically so what are some ways to hurt them politically look at examples of advocacy success ? what happened

its really important to recognize that the BCNDP government does not give the tiniest of fucks about the unregulated drug deaths emergency, unless it hurts them politically

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... “"It's really heartbreaking to read [Osborne's] advisers saying that they need to be giving her a briefing because there's been attention in the media and not because this is B.C.'s biggest public health crisis and loss of life that we've ever experienced in our history.”

Health system getting you down? Problem solved!

BC CT and MRI waiting times for 2025, via FOI. The FOI unfortunately only includes median wait times (i.e. half the people waited longer than this), though best practice is to also report 90th percentile wait times and % meeting targets. More: healthdatabc.ca/wait/imaging...

I saw police detain a man and search his backpack. After, when I asked the police what happened, I was told the man had been “arrestable” and therefore could be searched. That’s not a thing. Here’s a refresher on what police can and can’t do. Procedure is important. thetyee.ca/News/2026/06...

Look what Nova Scotia manages to PUBLICLY report about it's primary care waiting list. In BC? We get nothing. To get any data, we can wait for cherry-picked scraps from MOH or wait months for FOI requests. Widespread lack of transparency is enabling health system failure in BC.

BC Greens used to be THE strongest party on health. They understood what was going on and how to fix it. Did the hard work, no cheap slogans. Now? If we hear anything, it's about CHCs (attached). Which I like, but I wonder how much of it is that they use the word "community."

BC Greens used to be THE strongest party on health. They understood what was going on and how to fix it. Did the hard work, no cheap slogans. Now? If we hear anything, it's about CHCs (attached). Which I like, but I wonder how much of it is that they use the word "community."

When the government makes an announcement, it helps to have a guide to interpret it. Think all those health services promised are going to turn into reality? In your dreams. What's it actually costing, and what are you getting in return? Find out → healthdatabc.ca/upcc/

Most discussion on mental health and psychiatry focuses on the vitally important issues related to involuntary care. But that's not what most people who need help deal with. The "system" is failing them too. You deserve an honest discussion of how, why, and what you can do.

In what kind of organization would this happen? You go 18% over budget on overhead. Nobody notices or says anything. The next year you go 36% over budget on overhead. Problem right? Nope. The next year you go 55% over budget on overhead. What's next?

11/11 This work is only one part of a larger conversation. It's not about blame but fixing what's broken. Delivering the health care we all need via an effective public system can happen. But only if we're honest and commit to real transparency and accountability. healthdatabc.ca

📢 BC NDP opened the first Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) 8yrs ago. We now have 48. Govt has given us only cherry-picked good news. No detailed accounting of performance. I reviewed their own data obtained via FOI. It's bad. Strap in. 🧵1/11 healthdatabc.ca/upcc/

Anyone want to take a shot at explaining/justifying this? 🤯

If you've seen my analysis of UPCC performance, would love your help spreading the word. Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely you'll see much (if any) coverage of this in the media, which limits its reach and impact. Why? Read on…

If you've seen my analysis of UPCC performance, would love your help spreading the word. Unfortunately, it's highly unlikely you'll see much (if any) coverage of this in the media, which limits its reach and impact. Why? Read on…

Anyone want to take a shot at explaining/justifying this? 🤯

On the surface, UPCCs aren't seeing many patients given the number of staff. Maybe those visits are so much more in-depth that it justifies the numbers? If so, govt owes us some actual data to support that. If not, we need an explanation why those resources aren't better used.

With health authorities having a growing role in primary care, we need to look harder at their performance. Here's a start. @emilylowan.bsky.social @jervaler.bsky.social @robbotterell.bsky.social @brishti.bsky.social @pennydaflos.bsky.social @michellegamage.bsky.social @katiederosa.bsky.social

📢 BC NDP opened the first Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) 8yrs ago. We now have 48. Govt has given us only cherry-picked good news. No detailed accounting of performance. I reviewed their own data obtained via FOI. It's bad. Strap in. 🧵1/11 healthdatabc.ca/upcc/

Three words that are necessary (although not sufficient) to save health care in BC.

Putting the finishing touches on my analysis of several years of FOI'd data on BC's Urgent and Primary Care Centres. Expect to release it on Monday. It's a stark lesson on why healthcare orgs—especially ones dependent on public opinion for survival—need independent oversight.

Three words that are necessary (although not sufficient) to save health care in BC.

We need a new position in B.C. — Minister of Health. Someone responsible for managing the health system and accountable for its performance. This would be distinguished from the Minister of Health Public Relations, which is what we have now. www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comm...

Still crunching through FOI data on BC's UPCC's, which tend to be filled with too many nurses and administrators but not enough doctors. Effective cost per visits are insanely high—$185.74—on par with MSP fees for specialist consultations. Nobody is looking out for public $$$.

I wonder how Consultant Specialists of BC (who along with rest of @doctorsofbc.bsky.social are currently voting on ratification of the next PMA outlining their fees) feel about this. Government throws hundreds of millions at UPCC's, yet the care delivered pales in comparison with alternatives.

And if you thought the previous chart (showing UPCC visit costs vs. independent clinic family medicine and specialist visits) was scary, check this out. Per-visit OVERHEAD-ONLY costs at UPCC's and how they stack up against FULL VISIT fees for indie docs. 🤯

I would love for someone to explain to me why there are so many nurses in Urgent and Primary Care Centres, relative to family physicians and nurse practitioners. On average, it's a 2:1 ratio, in some much higher. What do they actually do that requires so many?

I would love for someone to explain to me why there are so many nurses in Urgent and Primary Care Centres, relative to family physicians and nurse practitioners. On average, it's a 2:1 ratio, in some much higher. What do they actually do that requires so many?

And if you thought the previous chart (showing UPCC visit costs vs. independent clinic family medicine and specialist visits) was scary, check this out. Per-visit OVERHEAD-ONLY costs at UPCC's and how they stack up against FULL VISIT fees for indie docs. 🤯

I wonder how Consultant Specialists of BC (who along with rest of @doctorsofbc.bsky.social are currently voting on ratification of the next PMA outlining their fees) feel about this. Government throws hundreds of millions at UPCC's, yet the care delivered pales in comparison with alternatives.

Still crunching through FOI data on BC's UPCC's, which tend to be filled with too many nurses and administrators but not enough doctors. Effective cost per visits are insanely high—$185.74—on par with MSP fees for specialist consultations. Nobody is looking out for public $$$.

Phew! First draft of my analysis of several years of FOI data on BC's Urgent and Primary Care Centres is finally complete. Looking forward to releasing this soon. Despite knowing how little impact it will actually have on our unaccountable government.

Phew! First draft of my analysis of several years of FOI data on BC's Urgent and Primary Care Centres is finally complete. Looking forward to releasing this soon. Despite knowing how little impact it will actually have on our unaccountable government.

We need a new position in B.C. — Minister of Health. Someone responsible for managing the health system and accountable for its performance. This would be distinguished from the Minister of Health Public Relations, which is what we have now. www.timescolonist.com/opinion/comm...

One thing that jumps out from UPCC numbers from FOI. Overhead costs are insane—average 55% over budget. Some sites way higher. This is government running health care with access to unlimited funds and without any oversight.

If you work it out on a cost per patient visit, average overhead cost is $58.46. Per patient! Just overhead! By comparison, a family physician working under LFP can bill $57.50 for a 15-min visit (98010,98031). And that amount covers all their costs incl/ overhead!

Starting to look at UPCC data over last few years… aggregate data, still preliminary. Patient visits up (good). Costs way up (not good). Primary care hiring still slow (uh oh). Overhead and nursing way over budget (yikes). Productivity vs. independent practitioners? Horrible.