At least five communities had ER closures this past weekend and hospitals that remained open are critically understaffed
Emergency rooms in Clearwater, Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Oliver and Ashcroft closed temporarily between Friday and Sunday, forcing people to travel more than 100 kilometres to the next hospital.
During a news conference in Kamloops Monday to mark the opening of Royal Inland Hospital’s new tower and three new operating rooms set to open next year, Health Minister Adrian Dix shared concern over persistent emergency room closures, saying the situation, particularly in Clearwater, is a “significant problem.”Article content
“People are frightened because they think ‘Well, what if I have a heart attack? What if I go into cardiac arrest?’ ” Roden asked. People have resorted to checking on Facebook whether the emergency room will be open or whether they must drive an hour to Royal Inland Hospital, she said.Article content Over the weekend, she said, Royal Inland’s emergency department had only four nurses out of an expected baseline of 12 nurses. Her department was operating at 60 per cent of baseline staffing levels.Article content
B.C. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau slammed the government for presiding over ribbon cutting ceremonies and celebrating the opening of a new tower at Royal Inland Hospital with no certainty there will be any staff.
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