The BC Nurses Union (BCNU) planned a rally outside Victoria General Hospital on Sunday evening over what it calls staffing challenges.
The union says the hospital is facing a “chronic shortage of nurses” and that the recent overnight closure of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital emergency department will lead to increased pressure at Victoria General Hospital and the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
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On Thursday, Island Health announced that the Saanich Peninsula Hospital ER would be closed nightly from 10 pm. To 7 a.m. between July 7 and Sept. 4 due to a staffing shortage.
During the nightly closures, ambulances will be diverted from Saanich Peninsula Hospital to Victoria General Hospital and the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
The health authority says there is an average of 11 people who attend the Saanich Peninsula Hospital ER during the overnight hours.
Island Health expects a similar number of ER patients to be split between Victoria General and the Royal Jubilee during the summer closures.
BCNU vice president Adriane Gear says she’s concerned about additional patients going to the Victoria General Hospital ER, which she says is already strained.
“Not only is that a concern for community members who now need to go to Victoria General Hospital or Royal Jubilee Hospital, but that’s going to further overload emergency departments that are already extremely busy,” she said.
The rally was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Adam Chan
