Port Hardy Hospital emergency room closed for the weekend due to lack of staff
A hospital emergency department on the North Island will be closed all weekend because of limited staff availability, according to Island Health.
The health authority announced Friday that Port Hardy Hospital's emergency room would close at 7 p.m. and remain closed until the same time on Sunday.
Other services at the hospital will continue to be available during the ER closure, Island Health said.
"Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 or, if possible, proceed to Port McNeill Hospital," the health authority said in its announcement.
"Island Health and BC Emergency Health Services have protocols in place to ensure patients are transported to the appropriate site."
Both Port Hardy and Port McNeill hospitals have seen ER closures in recent weeks, as health-care facilities around the Island and across the country struggle with a shortage of medical staff.
Last weekend, a resident of the village of Ashcroft in B.C.'s Interior died while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. It was the second time in four weeks that someone in that community has died while waiting for emergency medical care.
Closer to Vancouver Island, overnight closures at the Cormorant Island Community Health Centre were recently extended to Aug. 31.
Health-care workers have said the lack of staff availability reflects chronic understaffing that has been exacerbated by stress and burnout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Island Health acknowledges this is not an ideal situation for the community and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience experienced by this temporary service reduction," the health authority said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.