Overnight closures continue at Port Hardy emergency department

Overnight closures continue at Port Hardy emergency department
CHEK

The Port Hardy Hospital emergency department will once again have overnight closures after being closed for 24 hours over the weekend.

From Nov. 14-16, the emergency department will close nightly between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.. Other inpatient services will continue as normal.

The emergency department will open every day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

If someone is experiencing a medical emergency, they are advised to call 911 or go to the Port McNeill Hospital if possible.

If you are uncertain if you are experiencing a medical emergency, 811 is available 24/7 for health information and advice.

This overnight closure comes after the emergency department has been facing significant staffing issues.

The most recent closure was over the weekend when the emergency department was closed for 24 hours, from 7 a.m. Nov. 13 to 7 a.m. Nov. 14.

The week before, the emergency department was closed all week.

When CHEK News spoke with Island Health about the closures on Nov. 8, the health authority said it has made significant progress in addressing the physician shortage for the emergency department, but it is now struggling to find enough nurses.

“Island Health continues to take action – working with our partners we are expanding our retention and recruitment activities, have increased our access to travel nurse programs, invested in added support resources within the hospitals, enhanced our local leadership and educator teams and are investing in infrastructure improvements,” the health authority said in a statement on Nov. 8.

“Island Health continues to undertake local, national and international recruitment campaigns focused on attracting staff to the region, and this work is ongoing. 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.”

READ MORE: ‘They’re burnt out’: Nurse shortage a challenge for Port Hardy hospital

Laura BroughamLaura Brougham

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