Chetwynd Mayor discusses staffing struggles and diversions at local hospital

CHETWYND, B.C. — Chetwynd Mayor Allen Courtoreille says hospital diversions are an unfortunate reality around the province, but the ones happening in his community are a major concern.

Courtoreille spoke about the recent diversions on the May 31st edition of This Week in the Peace.

Since April 21st, Chetwynd Hospital’s Emergency Department has been diverted nearly a dozen times, including multiple diversions during the last week of May.

“It is a very big concern, for us here in Chetwynd, that if we have any emergency, we have to travel to Dawon Creek or call an ambulance,” Courtoreille said.

The mayor also said he had heard some information regarding the diversions from Northern Health. 

Every single diversion of the emergency department since April 21st has been caused by a lack of staff – doctors or nurses – available to work.

“I believe we had an incident with a doctor where he needed medical care,” Courtoreille said. “So, that left the position open.”

Courtoreille says doctors are only human, and are just as susceptible to injury or illness as everyone else.

“They go through the same things that we do as patients, right? So that was one of the reasons they were on diversion, a few times.”

In terms of addressing the diversions, Courtoreille says an administrator in Chetwynd is actively looking into recruiting and educating new nurses, and doctors.

“We have two things. That’s why we’re in such a terrible position here in British Columbia, and it’s not just in Chetwynd.”

Courtoreille says three new doctors are set to begin working in the community soon, and Northern Health is looking into filling openings in the emergency room.

Another part of the issue, Courtoreille adds, is that doctors are typically hired on two-year contracts.

“It’s kind of tough, for the doctors, when their time’s up, they do want to move on,” he says. “So I’m not too sure exactly what Northern Health is planning to do about having doctors long-term.”

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 Eljen Healthcare Clinic into a “primary care hub” for the entire South Peace region, and it’s working alongside Northern Health to make it happen.