Dawson Creek Hospital Diverts Emergency Services Due to Physician Shortage

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Northern Health has announced a diversion at Dawson Creek and District Hospital on Sunday, August 18th.

According to a Facebook post, the diversion will begin at 7:00 p.m. this evening and continue overnight, ending at 8:00 a.m. Monday morning.

The health authority said in the post that an “unexpected shortage of physician coverage,” is the cause of the latest diversion at the hospital. 

“The timing of this interruption is subject to change, as we are continually working to ensure physician coverage for emergency department services,” the statement reads.

This is the first such diversion since late July at Dawson Creek and district hospital.

Individuals who need life saving emergency care are advised to call 9-1-1 for transport to Fort St. John hospital or the nearest available and appropriate facility, according to the post.

“Any time services are interrupted, our partners in patient transfer and local health services are notified and signage will be in place at the hospital informing patients to call 9-1-1 for transport.” says the post.

For non-urgent care needs, patients should visit their primary care provider or call the NH Virtual Primary & Community Care Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 (daily, 10 am to 10 pm) to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner.

The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program also enables Indigenous people and their family members living in BC with limited or no access to their own doctors to make virtual appointments, by calling 1-855-344-3800 seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Patients who aren’t sure whether their condition would warrant an emergency room visit, or who need health advice can call HealthLink BC (8-1-1) for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.