Campbell River Health Unit

Services

Public Health Nursing:

Provides health promotion, disease prevention, intervention and support services to women, children, youth and families living in Campbell River from Oyster River to Sayward, Quadra, Cortes and Read Island.

Perinatal:

• Right from the Start – Universal registration for Public Health Nursing supports and services for pregnant women and new moms, their babies, children and families. Nurses guide clients as they navigate potential challenges with pregnancy and parenthood. 
• Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) – a free home visitation program for women under 25 years of age having their first baby. The program begins in pregnancy and continues until the child is two years of age. The focus is to improve pregnancy outcomes, child health & development and prenatal life-course. 
• Prenatal Education
  • Free, online labour and delivery booklet
  • One-to-one prenatal teaching and support for individuals with specific needs
  • Breastfeeding classes
• Baby Bed Program - offers new and expecting parents a free, self-contained safe sleeping surface for baby. No appointment necessary. Drop by the health unit Monday
  • Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (no nurse available from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.)
• Olive Branch – free, a one-on-one Public Health Nursing support for women experiencing prenatal and postpartum depression, anxiety and adjustment challenges. The focus is on building skills and setting goals that support women to regain a sense of well-being
• Breastfeeding Support
  • Drop in Monday – Friday or home visit, as needed
  • Lactation Consultants available
• Telephone contact with all new mothers and home visits, as identified
• BC Early Hearing Program – Public Health Nurses screen all babies for hearing in the first few weeks of life.
• Resource:
  • Baby’s Best Chance - If you are about to become a parent, or just had a baby, this handbook is for you. Topics covered include pregnancy, birth and parenting a baby up to six months of age.

Children and Youth:

• ImmunizeBC - Immunization clinics offer provincially funded immunizations to infants, and school-aged children.
• Parenting Support – Public Health Nurses connect with parents to share information on topics such as safety, growth, nutrition and parenting. Public Health Nurses offer developmental screening and referrals to other agencies or services, as needed
• Work in partnership with Campbell River Family Services Society, Laichwiltach Family Life Society and the Campbell River Maternity Clinic to share Public Health information with young families.
• Engage with community members at Early Years and Perinatal Advisory tables.
• Kindergarten Hearing and Vision Screening – all kindergarten children in the school district are offered free hearing and vision screening. Three-year-old vision screening is also available upon request of parents.
• Dental Screening – On-site Hygienist supports the community to improve oral health; focusing on dental prevention and young families. More detail to be located on the Island Health Dental Program web page or by contacting the Health Unit at 250-850-2110.
• Nursing Support Services (NSS) – Nurse assists parents and caregivers to help children with special health care needs lead active healthy lives in their communities, while facilitating, consistent care and appropriate health supports. This program is available to British Columbia’s children and youth, from birth to 19 years of age, who require specialized nursing care such as, tracheostomy care, palliative care, gastrostomy feedings, etc.
  ​​​Services include:
  • Nursing assessment and functional assessments for the “At Home” program
  • Development and implementation of a health care plan
  • Training, delegation and ongoing monitoring of caregivers in schools and selected child care settings
  • Advocacy for children with special needs and their families
  • Liaison and consultation with family, health professionals, school personnel, and other service providers

• Nutrition – Please contact the Health Unit at 250-850-2110 for information on nutrition services provided by the Community Nutritionist Registered Dietitian. 
• Youth Clinics – Free, confidential drop-in services for youth. Clinics can connect with a nurse in a welcoming, safe and respectful environment. Services include: pregnancy testing and counseling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STI), low cost birth control and/or ECP (emergency contraceptive pill), free condoms, referrals to other agencies such as mental health / counseling or medical specialists, with sexual health information sharing. Clinics are currently held at:
  • Foundry - Thursdays from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Carihi Secondary School – Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Timberline Secondary School – Tuesdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Robron Centre – Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Comprehensive School Health – support schools to adopt a comprehensive school health approach to addressing the health needs of our school population and to provide linkages between schools and community resources. Healthy Schools BC resource is the key initiative to help build the capacity for healthy schools. Visit Healthy Schools BC for more information. 
• School-based immunization clinics for Grade 6 and 9 students.
• Head Lice Education
• Communicable Disease – Public Health Nurses collaborate with the CD Hub to offer information and follow-up of communicable diseases.
• Resource:
  • Toddler’s First Steps (six to 36 months)

Adults:

• Public Health Nurses offer publicly funded immunizations to eligible adults. Non-funded immunizations required for travel purposes referred to GP, Pharmacist or Travel Clinic 
• TB Testing (fees may apply)
• STI Testing
• Outreach Work – provide immunization and STI testing at the following locations:
  • Aids Vancouver Island (AVI) - Learn more about HIV & HCV safer sex, HIV testing or transmission, STIs and harm reduction.
  • Transition Society - Provides services to women and children struggling with issues of abuse and violence.
  • Second Chance Recovery -  Provide fresh starts for men conquering addictions.