Reduced hours continue at 2 Island health-care centres
Limited staff availability has led to the further reduction of services at one Vancouver Island health-care facility and the extension of overnight closures at another.
Island Health announced Friday that overnight closures of the emergency department at the Cormorant Island Community Health Centre in Alert Bay would be extended until Oct. 17.
On Thursday, the health authority announced a schedule for closures and hours reductions in urgent care at the Chemainus Health Care Centre throughout the month of October.
Both facilities have been operating on reduced hours for months. Island Health first scaled back the Chemainus facility's hours in May, and overnight closures at Cormorant Island began in July.
Initially, the Alert Bay facility – which had previously been open for emergency services 24 hours a day – was scheduled to close from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily for two weeks.
The closures were later extended through the end of August, then to mid-September, then through the end of September, and now through mid-October.
Anyone experiencing a medical emergency in Alert Bay while the emergency department is closed should call 911, Island Health said, adding that it has "protocols in place to ensure patients are transported to an appropriate alternate site."
"Island Health, like all health authorities in B.C. and across Canada, is extremely challenged by the health workforce shortage," the health authority said in a statement.
"At this time, Island Health does not have enough nursing staff in the region to maintain safe, consistent 24/7 ED services at the CICHC. This is being done to ensure the safety of patients. You must have a minimum level of staff in order for patients to be safe."
The health authority said it is working "diligently" on recruiting nurses, with the goal of resuming 24-hour service "as quickly as possible."
Meanwhile, in Chemainus, it is "limited physician availability" that is causing service reductions.
While laboratory and medical imaging services at the facility remain open for their usual hours, Island Health released a detailed schedule for when urgent care will be available at Chemainus Health Care Centre in October.
When urgent care is not available at the facility, patients are advised to go to Ladysmith Community Health Centre or Cowichan District Hospital, which are 15 and 20 kilometres away, respectively.
"Island Health is continuing work to secure additional physician coverage for October, which may result in adjustments to CHCC urgent care hours of operation," the health authority said. "Residents and visitors to the area can call ahead to the CHCC for up-to-date information at 250-737-2040 ext. 42227 or check for updates on the Island Health website."
The schedule for urgent care availability released Thursday is as follows:
- Oct. 1 – Closed
- Oct. 2 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 3 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 4 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 5 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 6 – Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Oct. 7 – Closed
- Oct. 8 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 9 – Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Oct. 10 – Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Oct. 11 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 12 – Closed
- Oct. 13 – Closed
- Oct. 14 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 15 – Closed
- Oct. 16 – Closed
- Oct. 17 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 18 – Closed
- Oct. 19 – Closed
- Oct. 20 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 21 – Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Oct. 22 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 23 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 24 – Closed
- Oct. 25 – Closed
- Oct. 26 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 27 – Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Oct. 28 – Open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Oct. 29 – Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Oct. 30 – Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Oct. 31 – Closed
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.