PRRD addresses multiple hospital closures during Thursday's meeting

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Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre. (Facebook)

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — During the July 18th regular meeting in Fort St. John, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) agreed to send letters regarding the region’s multiple hospital closures.

“We have been dealing with this for years,” said Board chair Brad Sperling. “When four of the largest emergency rooms in this regional district are closed on the same day, where are we supposed to go? It’s pathetic.”

At the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre, board members expressed their concerns they have heard from outraged residents saying tax dollars to be withheld until the closures are addressed.

“We were all affected by this; one diversion is too many, but four diversions all in one day—that’s not a diversion; that’s a collapse,” said Sperling.

Jordan Kealy pointed out that it is one thing if Fort St. John Hospital is closed and people can go to Dawson Creek, but it is very different if Fort Nelson experiences a diversion when the next closest hospital is hours away.

“This systemic, it is not just to this region, this is happening across the province,” said Kealy.

The board approved the sending of a letter requesting an audit of Northern Health’s financial, operational, and workplace situations.

The letter will be sent to British Columbia Premier David Eby, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, Peace River MLAs Dan Davies and Mike Bernier, and the presidents of the Union of BC Municipalities and the North Central Local Government Association.

Director Darryl Krakowka suggested sending weekly letters until they receive a response.

The board also invited Northern Health CEO Ciro Panessa to a future PRRD Committee of the Whole meeting at his earliest convenience.

Krakowka said the CEO should be brought in as early as possible, and the board could have an emergency meeting if necessary.

The board hopes to have an open discussion on operations, facility diversions, limitations, protocols, and strategic plans for addressing diversions to stop them from happening.