Staff shortage at Chetwynd Hospital forces second straight weekend ER closure

CHETWYND, B.C. — For the second weekend in a row, Northern Health closed the Chetwynd Hospital emergency room due to low staff.

According to a Facebook post, the health authority closed the emergency department at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, reopening it the following day at 8:00 a.m.

This weekend’s closure was due to “challenges with nursing coverage,” according to the post.

Last week’s closure, which ran from 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 21st, to 8:00 a.m. the following Monday, was reportedly caused by a lack of available physicians.

The South Peace Division of Family Care, a group of healthcare workers in Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, and Dawson Creek, says it’s working to recruit and hire more doctors and staff for the area.

The organization also plans to turn Dawson Creek’s Eljen Healthcare Clinic into a “primary care hub” for the entire South Peace region, working alongside partners with Northern Health.

While the closures were active, patients who needed urgent care were advised to visit the hospital in Dawson Creek for treatment. 

Patients with life-threatening needs, like those experiencing chest pain or severe bleeding, were advised to call 9-1-1.