FORT ST. JOHN -- Northern Health is advising residents that emergency department services at the Fort St. John Hospital are currently unavailable and will remain so until Wednesday July 17th at 5:00 a.m.
The hospital is once again having challenges with physician coverage, according to the Health Authority.
“People in Fort St. John and area who need life-threatening emergency care should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility,” said Northern Health in a statement.
Northern Health says the emergency department will be the only service interrupted by Tuesday’s doctor shortage.
The Birthing Centre, surgery suites, and ambulatory clinics will not be impacted.
In a statement to CJDC-TV, Northern Health says they are currently working to fill vaccines through July and August, despite schedules being made months in advance.
"We are continuing to aggressively recruit among local and locum physicians, and work is ongoing to refine incentives and other supports to make Fort St. John Hospital emergency department coverage more attractive to both local medical staff and available locum physicians," said Northern Health.
Today’s diversion marks a consistent pattern of overnight diversions at the Fort St. John hospital due to staffing shortages, marking the fourth closure since July 12th.
"Of the more than 90 physician shifts in the emergency department in a given month, we continue to fill the vast majority of these, however there are times when all options for coverage are exhausted and a service interruption is required as a last resort," said Northern Health.