Our Stories

Read the latest stories about what's going on at St. Joseph's Health Care London.

Stephen Yeo, Spiritual Care supervisor-educator, in the chapel at St. Joseph’s Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care.

"A real strength for living" Patients benefit from Spiritual Care services at Southwest Centre

Years ago, during an evening chapel service for patients held at Southwest Centre, a volunteer from the community began the service by saying he was there to pray on behalf of “all these wonderful people,” so they would know they were loved. Afterward, Stephen Yeo, Spiritual Care supervisor-educator at Southwest Centre, rode the elevator with one of the patients on the way back to his unit. As he often does, he asked how the service had been for him. "He looked at me and said, 'He called us wonderful people,'" Yeo recalls. "Usually, patients will say the music was nice, or the reflection was...
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patient undergoing breast screening

Did the pandemic derail your regular breast screening?

COVID-19 has inadvertently provided further proof of the importance of timely screening for breast cancer. Book your appointment today. If you missed your breast screening appointment due to the pandemic, book it now. A serious side effect of COVID-19 has come to light showing the impact of...
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Dr. Michael Borrie

Do you have dementia?

Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you were there? Do you lose your keys or your cell phone or find yourself searching for a word in a conversation? Are you worried these are signs you may have memory problems and even dementia? While 40 per cent of us will experience some type of...
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All in the family

A new exhibit at St. Joseph’s Hospital showcases generations of families that have contributed to the legacy of the hospital dating back to its earliest days. American author Alex Haley famously wrote “in every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” At St. Joseph...
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Chris Boyd with award

Helping to heal

“I was surprised when I got the call,” smiles Chris Boyd. “I never expected it and I could hardly believe it.” The unexpected call was from the Governor General’s office of Canada. Chris was given the exciting news that she was one of this year’s recipients of the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers...
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Man gets eye checkup at Ivey Eye Institute

Protecting our most precious gift – our ability to see

Delicate and intricately complex, it’s essential for vision. It’s also a common culprit in the loss of that gift. The retina contains millions of cells that work together to detect light and communicate with the brain. But aging and various health conditions can lead to retina complications that can...
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Mark Alfieri holding an apple

St. Joseph’s prescribes lifestyle as medicine 

For years, 58-year-old Mark Alfieri had missed all the signs of type 2 diabetes. The ones he did notice – numbness and pain in his hands and feet – he dismissed as part of a long-standing back injury. He also admits to abusing his body with less than stellar eating habits and an addiction to sugar...
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a large group of parade participants wearing clothes with the pride stripes holding a pride-themed sign that reads "Embracing the diversity of our community with pride."

St. Joseph's participates in London's Pride Parade

Despite the call for rain, more than 40 participants from St. Joseph's Health Care London marched in London’s Pride Parade. Staff and physicians were joined by their family and friends for the walk, which was back after a two-year pandemic hiatus. The parade route started at the Western Fairgrounds...
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Grace Hicks holding her horse Nova by the bridle as it nuzzles her shoulder

A horse of a different colour

The smell of wet grass filled her nostrils as avid rider Grace Hicks tumbled with her horse when the mare slipped on sod slick from a rainfall the day before. In that moment, her life took a devastating turn. “We both went down hard,” says the 20-year-old. “It was a fluke accident. The right side of...
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