Diversion announced for Dawson Creek Hospital emergency department

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The emergency department at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital is closing Tuesday night, according to Northern Health.

The health authority announced the service disruption Tuesday, saying the emergency department would be closed from 5:00 p.m. May 21st to 7:00 a.m. May 22nd due to “an unexpected shortage of nursing staff coverage.”

Residents who need life-threatening emergency care for symptoms like chest pains, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding are urged to call 911 for transportation to the nearest available facility.

Meanwhile, patients with non-urgent care needs can visit their primary care provider or call the Northern Health Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic at 1-844-645-7811.

Outside of Dawson Creek, Northern Health has struggled with similar staffing shortages, including several emergency department diversions at the Chetwynd Hospital in recent weeks.

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

The organization is also planning to turn Dawson Creek’s Ejen Healthcare Clinic into a “primary care hub” for the entire South Peace region, and it’s working alongside Northern Health to make it happen.