Community members in Fort Nelson have been advised the local emergency department has had a temporary closure.
The Fort Nelson General Hospital closure is from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and is due to challenges with nursing coverage.
Northern Health said anyone in need of emergency care should still call 911 for transport to the nearest facility.
![Click to play video: 'Medical students voice ER care concerns'](https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/gt8nlv6kc5-thguh52sbc/LT_UBC_MED_STUDENTS_WITH_SIGN_OFF.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
However, the closest emergency department is in Fort St. John, which is roughly a four-hour drive away.
It is not the only Northern Health community dealing with emergency room closures as the Prince Rupert emergency department has closed ten times in March alone.
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All of those closures are also due to staffing issues.
![Click to play video: 'Prince Rupert woman describes desparate 911 call following husband’s seizure'](https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/qriposgfsz-8fdghaln3o/prince_rupert_family.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
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