The Port Hardy emergency department will be closed over the weekend due to physician shortage, after it has had overnight closures through the week.
On Tuesday, Island Health announced the emergency department would close overnight until Friday.
On Friday, the health authority announced the emergency department would close at 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
During the emergency department closure, all other in patient services will continue as normal.
Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911, where B.C. Emergency Health Services and Island Health have implemented a plan to bring patients to an appropriate site. If possible, people experiencing medical emergencies should proceed to the Port McNeill Hospital.
If someone is unsure if they are experiencing a medical emergency, you can call 811 to speak with a registered nurse for health information.
Island Health is opening the Port Hardy Primary Health Care/A’ekaḵila’as for walk-ins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30.
This closure is one of many that have occurred in recent months at this hospital.
Island Health has put together a task force to look at solutions for hospitals on the north Island, but in the meantime they are facing frequent closures due to worker shortages.
On Aug. 25, James Hanson, Island Health’s vice-president of clinical operations for central and north Island, told Canada’s National Observer there is a 40 per cent vacancy rate for staff nurses at the Port Hardy and McNeill sites, and COVID-19 sick calls are making things worse.
READ MORE FROM OCT. 26: Port Hardy emergency department to close overnight until Friday
READ MORE FROM OCT. 21: Port Hardy emergency department to close over the weekend
READ MORE FROM OCT. 11: Port Hardy emergency department facing repeated closures this week due to physician shortage
READ MORE FROM OCT. 4: Port Hardy ER faces another overnight closure due to staffing shortage
READ MORE FROM SEPT. 20: Staff shortage to blame for immediate, temporary closure at Port Hardy emergency department
READ MORE FROM SEPT. 1: Island Health announces hour changes for Chemainus health centre, Port Hardy emergency department
READ MORE FROM AUG. 19: Lack of staff prompts 48-hour closure at Port Hardy’s emergency department
READ MORE FROM AUG. 5: Port McNeill and Port Hardy Hospital to experience service interruptions over weekend
READ MORE FROM JULY 17: Emergency department at Port Hardy Hospital temporarily closing
-With files from Rochelle Baker, Canada’s National Observer
Laura Brougham
