Alberta’s former chief medical officer of well being (CMOH) will tackle a brand new function as a deputy provincial well being officer in BC
Dr. Deena Hinshaw is on a six-month contract, in response to a press release from BC’s Provincial Well being Officer (PHO), Dr. Bonnie Henry, Wednesday.
“In her new function, Dr. Hinshaw will assist the work of the workplace of the PHO,” mentioned Henry.
Hinshaw held the CMOH place from January 2019 till November 2022 when she was eliminated by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Hinshaw was Alberta’s CMOH at some stage in the COVID-19 pandemic. Her management has usually come below fireplace, particularly when she supported the lifting of almost all public well being restrictions associated to COVID-19 in the summertime of 2021, which was adopted by a large wave of coronavirus infections within the province.
Hinshaw argued the choice to elevate nearly all restrictions — a transfer the province later backtracked on earlier than restrictions have been lastly lifted — was primarily based on the truth that COVID-19 couldn’t be eradicated, so it was time for Albertans to be taught to stay with the illness.
She mentioned on the time that eliminating isolation necessities, asymptomatic testing and make contact with tracing would permit the province to concentrate on different well being threats, together with the opioid deaths and syphilis.
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Whereas some Albertans have been important of Hinshaw when she supported lifting public well being measures, others spoke out in opposition to her when she launched or expressed assist for restrictions associated to COVID-19.
Dr. Andrew Larder, who beforehand served as a medical well being officer at each Fraser and Inside Well being, will even be part of the provincial well being management staff “over the subsequent few months.”
“The poisonous drug disaster, the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing responses to warmth, wildfires and outbreaks have proven how critically essential the work we do in public well being is to assist and defend individuals and communities throughout BC,” mentioned Henry .
“I really feel very privileged to work with such proficient and devoted public well being professionals and I do know their experience will probably be of nice assist as we emerge from the pandemic and proceed to handle the various public well being challenges going through the province. communicate.”
– With information from Phil Heidenreich, International Information
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