Dawson Creek Hospital sustains weekend emergency department diversion

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The Dawson Creek and District Hospital’s emergency department was temporarily closed on the weekend.

Northern Health announced just after 8:45  p.m. Friday, July 26th, that the hospital’s emergency department would be diverted between 9:00 p.m. that evening and 7:00 a.m. Saturday, July 27th.

The listed cause for the diversion was “nursing coverage challenges,” the same reason for the last emergency department diversion at the hospital earlier this month.

This is the third diversion of the hospital’s emergency department this month. 

While it was in effect, those in need of life-threatening emergency care were urged to call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Meanwhile, non-urgent care patients were told to book an online appointment with Northern Health’s virtual clinic at 1-844-745-7811.