Closures coming to 2 Vancouver Island-area hospitals due to staff shortage
Island Health is warning residents of multiple closures at the Chemainus Health Care Centre (CHCC) and Cormorant Island Community Health Centre in August due to a staff shortage.
The health authority says the emergency department at the Cormorant Island centre will be closed overnight, from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., from Aug. 2 to 16.
Anyone who lives on the island, located off the north end of Vancouver Island, who has a medical emergency during this time is asked to call 911.
The health authority says it has a plan in place with BC Emergency Health Services to transport people to alternate sites if a medical emergency occurs during this two-week period.
Island Health warns residents not to attend the ER when it is closed "as this will delay your access to care."
"Island Health, like all health authorities in B.C. and across Canada, is extremely challenged by the health workforce shortage," said the health authority in a statement Friday.
"At this time, Island Health does not have enough nursing staff in the region to maintain safe, consistent 24/7 [Emergency Department] services at the CICHC."
CHEMAINUS CLOSURES
Meanwhile, Island Health says central Vancouver Island residents should expect closures and an inconsistent operating schedule at the Chemainus Health Care Centre next month.
Generally, the CHCC is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. However, in May the health authority said it was dropping its hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to due to a staff shortage.
Now, throughout the month of August, the health-care centre's urgent care services will also be closed for six days, and 12 other days will see shortened operating hours.
When the CHCC's urgent care services are closed, residents are asked to head to the Ladysmith Community Health Centre, about 15 kilometres away, or the Cowichan District Hospital, located about 20 kilometres away.
During these closures, Island Health says it will send more workers to the two other health-care sites to support staff and patients.
The CHCC's laboratory and medical imaging services will continue to operate as usual during this time, according to Island Health.
The health authority says it's still searching for doctors to cover the shortages at the CHCC in August. If some are found, the schedule may change.
As the month progresses, residents can call 250-737-2040 ext. 42227 to check for the most up-to-date operating hours at the CHCC, or check the Island Health website.
"Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 or, if possible, proceed to the nearest Emergency Department," said Island Health.
"Island Health acknowledges this is not an ideal situation for the community and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience experienced by this temporary service interruption."
The full schedule for the Chemainus Health Care Centre in August can be found below:
- August 1, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 2, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 3, 2022 | CLOSED
- August 4, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 5, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 6, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 7, 2022 | 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 8, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 9, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 10, 2022 | CLOSED
- August 11, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 12, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 13, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 14, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 15, 2022 | CLOSED
- August 16, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 17, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 18, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 19, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 20, 2022 | CLOSED
- August 21, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 22, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 23, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 24, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 25, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 26, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 27, 2022 | CLOSED
- August 28, 2022 | CLOSED
- August 29, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- August 30, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- August 31, 2022 | No change, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.