Island medical lab reopening after staff shortage forced closure

A Vancouver Island medical lab that closed in August due to a lack of staff will be reopening Tuesday.
The Ucluelet outpatient medical lab will reopen on Dec. 6, Island Health announced Friday.
The lab, located at 1566 Peninsula Rd., was closed Aug. 9 to ensure that there would be enough staff to operate inpatient and outpatient lab services at nearby Tofino General Hospital.
When it first announced the closure, the health authority said the Ucluelet lab would remain closed until more staff could be hired.
Staffing challenges have caused closures and hours reductions at health-care facilities across the Island and across B.C. this year.
When service at the Ucluelet lab resumes, the facility will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as it was before the closure. The new hours of operation will be 9:45 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., according to Island Health.
Appointment booking is available online and through the health authority's laboratory call centre at 866-370-8355.
"We are thankful to the community for their patience and understanding and look forward to serving them once again," Island Health said in a statement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Liberals withdraw controversial amendment to guns bill
The federal Liberals are withdrawing an amendment to their guns bill that introduced a controversial new definition of an assault-style weapon. The amendment would have defined what kind of firearms should be banned in Canada and added dozens of new semi-automatic rifles and shotguns to the list.

Canadian COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Medicago Inc. shutting down
Medicago Inc., the Quebec-based drug manufacturer of a Canadian COVID-19 vaccine and other plant-based drugs, is being shut down by parent company Mitsubishi Chemical Group.
Canada summons Chinese ambassador over high-altitude surveillance balloon
China's ambassador to Canada has been called onto the carpet to explain a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is hovering over the U.S.
NORAD tracking high-altitude surveillance balloon detected over the U.S., Canada says
The Department of National Defence says Canada is working with the United States to protect sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats after a high-altitude surveillance balloon was detected.
Federal department fires 49 employees for claiming CERB while employed
A federal government department has fired 49 employees who received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit while they were employed.
Migrant workers sneak secret menus into Canadian restaurants to expose exploitation
Hundreds of customers who scan QR codes for restaurant menus across Canada are being surprised by secret menus instead, revealing the hidden costs behind the food they eat.
Could the fungal outbreak in The Last of Us happen for real?
The post-apocalyptic TV adaptation of the video game The Last of Us has some wondering about the real-life possibility of a global pandemic caused by fungus, and one expert says it’s not a concept to dismiss.
Most of Ontario under extreme cold warning, Arctic blast brings biting chills
Most of Ontario is under an extreme cold warning as a blast of Arctic air delivers biting wind chills.
'Made-in-Canada system' keeps egg supply stable. But is it also keeping prices high?
Canada's egg industry appears to be quietly sidestepping widespread shortages and wildly spiking prices affecting other countries, and some say supply management is to thank.