UPDATE: Chetwynd Hospital may experience possible service interruptions this week

UPDATE: Northern Health said staff coverage has been arranged, and overnight emergency department service interruptions are no longer expected on Wednesday or Thursday.

CHETWYND, B.C. — Northern Health advised residents Tuesday afternoon that there may be overnight service interruptions to the emergency department at the Chetwynd Hospital in the coming days.

Northern Health posted in its Chetwynd-specific Facebook group saying service interruptions may occur on January 2nd, 3rd and 4th due to limited staff availability.

The announcement from Northern Health follows a post in the group from a concerned resident about not being informed of a diversion at the Chetwynd Hospital on New Year’s Day.

A Northern Health communications team member replied to the post, saying the group is not monitored after hours, on weekends or on holidays, so it is not always possible to post about diversions in real time.

“Most diversions are known well in advance because you know where the holes in the schedule are. Asking for you to do better isn’t a criticism, it is a request from the community to keep us in the loop. If you know, the community should know,” a resident replied.

The team member reiterated that real-time updates are not always possible because diversions can happen anytime and can be required or cancelled on short notice.

One commenter said her husband was in so much pain he drove to the hospital only to be turned around. The communications team member replied with an apology, adding that diversions and service interruptions are only issued as a last resort.

In 2023, possible service interruptions due to staffing challenges were posted seven times on Northern Health’s Chetwynd and area-specific Facebook page.

A service disruption was also announced for the Fort Nelson Hospital on December 26th, 2023, which prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to hold a meeting on Tuesday with Northern Health, BC Emergency Health Services and residents.

The health authority advises those experiencing life-threatening emergencies to always call 9-1-1 for transport to the appropriate facility.

Northern Health says its partners in patient transfer and local health services will be notified in the case of a diversion or service interruption, and signage will be placed at the facility informing patients to call 9-1-1 for transport.

Residents who are unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 811 or visit their website for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Northern Health Virtual Clinic can also be called at 1-844-645-7811 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily to talk to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.