FORT NELSON, B.C. - The emergency department at Fort Nelson General Hospital is temporarily closed Friday for the second time in less than a week, as Northern Health continues to grapple with staffing shortages in Northeast B.C.
Northern Health says the emergency department will be unavailable from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, July 17.
During the closure, residents experiencing life-threatening emergencies are being urged to call 911 for ambulance transport.
The latest interruption comes just days after the hospital’s emergency department was closed over the weekend of July 11 and 12 due to what Northern Health described as ongoing staffing challenges.
Services later resumed, but the health authority had warned that emergency department availability can change on short notice.
For non-urgent medical needs during Friday’s closure, Northern Health is directing patients to alternative care options, including the Northern Health Virtual Clinic, the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program, pharmacists, and HealthLink BC.
Northern Health said patient transfer partners and local health-care providers have been notified of the service interruption and signage was posted at the hospital advising patients to call 911 if emergency transportation was required.
Northern Health has not provided further details about the specific staffing issues behind the latest closure.
Residents can monitor emergency department availability through Northern Health’s emergency department status webpage, which provides updates on service interruptions throughout the region.
The closure marks the latest in a series of temporary service disruptions that have affected health-care services in Northeast B.C. as the health authority continue efforts to recruit and retain staff in rural and northern communities.