Port Hardy Hospital emergency department closed overnight for 18-day holiday stretch

The Port Hardy Hospital’s emergency department will close overnight for an 18-day stretch during the holidays due to staffing shortages.

The 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. shutdowns began Thursday and will continue until the morning of Jan. 9. Other inpatient services will continue as usual, Island Health said in a Thursday news release.

“This service interruption is due to limited staff availability related to the ongoing health human resource challenges being experienced in many rural and remote regions of B.C. and Canada, combined with decreased staff availability traditionally experienced during the holiday season,” it wrote.

“This closure will support Island Health to consolidate staffing to ensure consistent emergency department services during the day in Port Hardy and 24/7 in Port McNeill.”

There have been more than 30 temporary closures at the Port Hardy Hospital emergency department in the past two months. It closed overnight for most of November.

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In a statement to Global News, Island Health acknowledged the situation is “not ideal” and apologized for the inconvenience.

“Island Health acknowledges this continues to be an extremely challenging time for everyone involved in the delivery of health care in the Mt. Waddington region, as well as for all the other communities we serve,” the heath authority said.

“We recognize the need for predictability and stability in the delivery of emergency services as well.”

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Last month, Island Health took part in a health summit for the Mt. Waddington region hosted by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC, and is working on strategies to bring stability and predictability to service in the region.

Meanwhile, patients experiencing a medical emergency have been asked to call 911, or if possible, get to the Port McNeill Hospital emergency department roughly 42 kilometres southeast of Port Hardy.

“Island Health and BC Emergency Health Services have protocols in place to ensure patients calling 911 are transported to an appropriate alternate site,” the health authority said.