Vancouver Island ER shuts down again temporarily due to staffing shortage
The emergency room at Port McNeill Hospital is once again closing its doors due to a staffing shortage, according to Island Health.
The ER at the North Island hospital will be closed from 7 a.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Monday.
Island Health adds that during this time, no new patients will be admitted to the hospital.
Anyone in need of emergency care should call 911 or head to Port Hardy Hospital, says the health authority.
"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," said the health authority in a statement Thursday.
Anyone experiencing a medical event who's unsure if it requires emergency care can call HealthLink B.C. at 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, according to Island Health.
HEALTHCARE CRISIS
This isn't the first time that Port McNeill Hospital has had to temporarily close its emergency room.
In March, the hospital closed its ER for a weekend due to an "unanticipated temporary physician shortage."
On Thursday, the health authority said it was still dealing with a shortage of health-care staff and that it was actively trying to fill nurse vacancies in the region.
"The staffing challenges experienced on the North Island are not unique to that region, or even Island Health," said the health authority.
"The effects of this national issue are amplified in rural and smaller programs and sites where baseline staffing numbers are lower."
Many B.C. residents and health-care workers have described the system as being in crisis in recent years, with even the premier telling CTV News he felt the situation was "dire."
Nurses recently rallied at the steps of the B.C. legislature on Tuesday to call attention to crushing workloads and mental health burnout.
Meanwhile, Victoria has the longest wait times to access walk-in clinics in the country, while B.C. has the longest average wait times out of all the provinces in Canada, according to online clinic tracker Medimap.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.