Vancouver, BC – After almost three years of consultation and planning, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is moving ahead with the first changes to Downtown Eastside health services as part of its Second Generation Strategy.
“Change is never easy, but we know it’s desperately needed in the Downtown Eastside,” says Health Minister Terry Lake. “Many residents increasingly struggle with chronic conditions and changing addiction issues, but a lack of integration between health services creates barriers to accessing treatment. I applaud Vancouver Coastal Health for making the changes needed to improve patient care in this neighbourhood.”
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“These new services will expand treatment options and provide better access to care for those who have significant untreated health issues,” says Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. “This will result in improved quality of life and health outcomes for people living in the Downtown Eastside.”
Vancouver city councilor Dr. Kerry Jang, who is also a professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, adds, “These improvements are long overdue and will ensure that resources are used more effectively in the Downtown Eastside. There is strong support throughout the community to move forward and address the priorities identified by the Downtown Eastside Second Generation Strategy consultation and planning process.”