TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. - Residents of Tumbler Ridge were without local emergency department services for three hours Sunday because of staffing shortages.
According to Northern Health, emergency services at the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre were unavailable from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, due to what it described as “unexpected staffing challenges.”
During the temporary closure, residents requiring life-threatening emergency care, including for chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding, were advised to call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.
Northern Health said local health service partners were notified and signage was posted at the hospital to direct patients.
The health authority noted that emergency department availability can change quickly and encouraged residents to check its online emergency department status page for the latest information.
The temporary interruption is the latest emergency department closure in Northern B.C. linked to staffing shortages as rural communities continue to face challenges recruiting and retaining health-care workers.