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Chetwynd Hospital’s ER to close again due to staff shortages on July 31 – August 1

For the third time in five days, Northern Health has announced Chetwynd Hospital will shutter its emergency department on Wednesday.

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Chetwynd Hospital’s emergency department will be closed from 8 a.m July 31st until 8 a.m. August 1st (Jordan Prentice, energeticcity.ca)

CHETWYND, B.C. — For the third time in five days, Northern Health has announced Chetwynd Hospital will shutter its emergency department on Wednesday.

The health authority said in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening the department will be closed from 8 a.m. on July 31st and open 24 hours later, on 8 a.m. August 1st.

Northern Health cited “staffing coverage challenges” as the reason for the closure, after diversions on both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend.

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In total, nine diversions have occurred at Chetwynd Hospital throughout July.

During a media briefing on Tuesday, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix discussed the provincial government’s efforts to recruit health care workers for northern communities, citing there was no singular solution and the complexity of healthcare diversions.

Those in need of life-threatening emergency care are urged to call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

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

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Authors
Ed Hitchins

A guy who found his calling later in life, Edward Hitchins is a professional storyteller with a colourful and extensive history.

Beginning his journey into journalism in 2012 at Seneca College, Edward also graduated from Humber College with an Advanced Diploma in Print and Broadcast Journalism in 2018.  After time off from his career and venturing into other vocations, he started his career proper in 2022 in Campbell River, B.C.

Edward was attracted to the position of Indigenous Voices reporter with Energeticcity as a challenge.  Having not been around First Nations for the majority of his life, he hopes to learn about their culture through meaningful conversations while properly telling their stories. 

In a way, he hopes this position will allow both himself and Energeticcity to grow as a collective unit as his career moves forward and evolves into the next step.

He looks forward to growing both as a reporter and as a human being while being posted in Fort St. John.

This reporting position has been funded by the Government of Canada and the Local Journalism Initiative.

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