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Vancouver Coastal Health For general inquiries, please call VCH Corporate Office Mon-Fri, 9-5 PST at (604) 736-2033.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) delivers health care services to British Columbians in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky, Bella Bella and Bella Coola. http://www.vch.ca/about-us/accountability/policies/social-media-guidelines

03/01/2026

Indigenous art has the power to transform health-care spaces. It reflects identity, strength, and resilience - bringing Indigenous stories and culture into care environments to support wellness and belonging.

Across VCH, we work alongside local artists and Host Nations to honour the territories where VCH sites are located, uphold Indigenous Cultural Safety, and continue our commitment to reconciliation.

In 2025, we were honoured to unveil five new Indigenous artwork pieces in VCH.

Explore Indigenous art throughout VCH via the link: vch.ca/en/about-us/indigenous-health/indigenous-art-vancouver-coastal-health

Need care, but it’s not an emergency?Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCC) offer care for non‑life‑threatening concerns...
31/12/2025

Need care, but it’s not an emergency?

Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCC) offer care for non‑life‑threatening concerns—think sprains and strains, minor cuts, infections, fevers, asthma and more.

Where to find a UPCC:
• Vancouver (four locations)
• Richmond (two locations)
• North Shore (one location)

Wait times at UPCCs vary and depend on patients' care needs. Check wait times and hours of operation before you visit at EDWaitTimes.ca.

UPCCs are open seven days a week, including evenings, weekends and statutory holidays.

🔎 Find your closest UPCC: vch.ca/upcc
📞 Want guidance first? Call 8‑1‑1 to speak with a nurse.

Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) play a vital role in patient advocacy – ensuring culturally safe, respectful and in...
30/12/2025

Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) play a vital role in patient advocacy – ensuring culturally safe, respectful and inclusive care.

IPNs offer:
• Holistic, person-centered care
• Health system navigation
• Connection to cultural supports, traditional medicines and ceremony
• Access to Indigenous-specific resources

VCH is committed to creating health-care environments where Indigenous patients, clients and families feel seen, supported and safe.

To learn more about IPNs: https://www.vch.ca/en/service/indigenous-patient-navigators-ipns

Find us at Ribbon Community this week where we’ll be providing drug checking services on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of ...
30/12/2025

Find us at Ribbon Community this week where we’ll be providing drug checking services on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of New Year’s Eve.

✅ Test your substances*
⁠✅ Grab Fentanyl test strips

*Only a small sample—about the size of a grain of salt—is needed for testing.

Location:
"The Corner”, 1101 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC. V6B 0R1

Times:
12:00 – 8:00 pm
December 30th and 31st

29/12/2025

❄️ Stay Safe This Winter: Prevent Slips and Falls

Snow and ice can be slippery. Take extra care when walking outdoors.

👟 Wear non-slip footwear
🚶 Use cleared pathways
🦯 Consider a cane or walking aid if needed

Older adults are especially at risk for serious injuries from falls. Stay active with strength and balance exercises to reduce your risk.

Find more advice and useful tips by following the link: https://www.findingbalancebc.ca/other-considerations

✅ Babies can enjoy many of the same foods as the rest of the family—starting around 6 months when they show signs of rea...
24/12/2025

✅ Babies can enjoy many of the same foods as the rest of the family—starting around 6 months when they show signs of readiness.

Here are a few tips to keep meals baby-friendly this holiday season:

• Soften hard fruits and veggies by cooking or shredding them.
• Finely chop meats and moisten with broth or water.
• Serve soft foods like mashed yams, potatoes, squash, and root veggies.
• Slice round foods (like grapes) lengthwise to prevent choking.
• Remove pits from fruits.
• Swap whole nuts/seeds for smooth nut or seed butters, spread thinly.

Sharing food traditions safely helps create memories that last a lifetime. For more information about eating and nutrition for infants, please visit the VCH website:

🔗 vch.ca/en/eating-and-nutrition-infants-18-months

Enjoying a festive tipple? Here’s how to keep your celebrations merry and safe this holiday season:🍷 Know what a “standa...
23/12/2025

Enjoying a festive tipple? Here’s how to keep your celebrations merry and safe this holiday season:

🍷 Know what a “standard drink” is:
• 341 mL (12oz) beer or cooler (5%)
• 142 mL (5oz) wine (12%)
• 43 mL (1.5oz) spirits (40%)

Less is best. 1-2 standard drinks per week is considered low risk and 0 per week is no risk.

✅ Stay sharp & safe:
• Have a meal before drinking
• Sip slowly
• Alternate with water
• Never drive or operate machinery after drinking

🎉 Choose non-alcohol drinks, help guests get home safely, and check in on anyone who may have had one too many.

📞 Need more tips or support? Call 8-1-1 in B.C. for free, confidential health guidance.

22/12/2025

❄️Whether you're walking or sliding, stay active and stay safe this winter!

✅ Get moving indoors or outdoors
✅ Wear a helmet for winter sports
✅ Check in on loved ones and neighbours, especially older adults

Learn more about injuries, risk factors and safety measures by visiting: activesafe.ca

For resources on staying healthy and where to go for the right care this winter, visit: vch.ca/wintercare

19/12/2025

Sweet treats, healthy smiles! 🍬😁

Holiday snacks are fun, but they can increase the risk of tooth decay — especially for little ones. Here’s how to keep those smiles healthy:

✨ Timing matters: When possible, enjoy sweets with meals or snack times instead of all day.
✨ Reduce germ sharing: Use separate utensils to help prevent the spread of cavity-causing bacteria.
✨ Brush & floss daily: Everyone in the family should keep up their routine and visit the dentist regularly.
✨ Fluoride toothpaste: Safe for kids as soon as teeth appear! Use a rice-sized amount for toddlers and a pea-sized amount for older kids.

Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood health problems—and it’s preventable! 🦷💪

15/12/2025

😷 Practice good respiratory hygiene and help stop the spread of illness this season:

💪 Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow
🧼 Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer

Small actions really can make a big difference!

🔗 vch.ca/wintercare

Respiratory syncytial (RSV) is a common virus that often causes mild cold-like symptoms. However, in some cases, it can ...
11/12/2025

Respiratory syncytial (RSV) is a common virus that often causes mild cold-like symptoms. However, in some cases, it can lead to more serious infections, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

Older adults are at higher risk of developing severe RSV including requiring urgent care and hospitalization.

There is a vaccine, which works best when given just before or during the RSV season. In BC, RSV infections often occur in the late fall to early spring. The vaccine for seniors can be purchased at select pharmacies and is covered by some extended benefits plans.

Use the Clinic Locator on the BC Pharmacy Association website to find a pharmacy with the RSV vaccine: https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/rsv-vaccines

Did you know? One in eight British Columbians gets food poisoning every year. Don’t let it spoil your holiday cheer!💡Swi...
10/12/2025

Did you know? One in eight British Columbians gets food poisoning every year. Don’t let it spoil your holiday cheer!

💡Swipe through for six tips to keep your celebrations safe and worry-free.

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