The beleaguered emergency department at Port Hardy Hospital will once again be closed for 26 hours after opening for just 10 hours since the last closure.
Starting at 5 p.m., the hospital will be closed until 7 p.m. on Nov. 23.
This comes after the emergency department was closed for 26 hours from 5 a.m. Nov. 21 to 7 a.m. on Nov. 22.
During the closure, all other inpatient services will continue as normal.
Anyone experiencing a medical emergency during this time should call 911 where protocols are in place to transport people to the appropriate hospital. If possible, Island Health recommends going to the Port McNeill Hospital.
If someone is unsure if they are experiencing a medical emergency, they can call 811 to speak with a registered nurse for confidential health information.
For same-day less urgent primary care, the Port Hardy Primary Health Care Centre/A’ekaḵila’as will be open for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 23.
The Port Hardy Hospital Emergency Department has recently faced a string of closures due to doctor or nursing shortages.
Island Health says progress has been made on attracting doctors to the hospital, but is now working to secure enough nurses.
READ MORE: ‘They’re burnt out’: Nurse shortage a challenge for Port Hardy hospital
“Island Health continues to undertake local, national and international recruitment campaigns focused on attracting staff to the region, and this work is ongoing,” it added in a statement.
“Despite the success in securing physician coverage and many other professional and support staff, it is expected the ongoing national nursing shortage will persist, impacting service interruptions.”
Laura Brougham
