TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. - Residents in Tumbler Ridge will be without local emergency department services for a third consecutive day after Northern Health announced the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre ER will remain on diversion through the weekend because of staffing shortages.
The latest closure began at 4 p.m. Friday and is expected to continue until 8 a.m. Monday, August 31, when emergency services are scheduled to resume.
The weekend disruption follows similar emergency department closures on Wednesday and Thursday, when services were also unavailable from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Northern Health said people experiencing life-threatening emergencies, including chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding, should call 911 for transportation to the nearest available and appropriate facility.
Partners involved in patient transfers and local health services have been notified, and signage has been posted at the hospital directing patients to call 911 if they require emergency care.
Northern Health noted that emergency department statuses can change quickly and advised residents to check its emergency department status webpage for the most up-to-date information.
The closure marks the third straight day of service interruptions at the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre emergency department, highlighting the ongoing staffing challenges facing rural health care facilities across northern British Columbia.