Northern Health rules out live online ER wait time tool despite pressure from BC Conservatives

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Conservative MLAs have called on health authorities like Northern Health to provide immediate province-wide emergency room wait time information.

On July 3rd, Island Health announced an online tool for patients to compare waiting times between its eight major hospital sites. 

Conservative MLAs Anna Kindy and Brennan Day then called for this information model to be replicated around British Columbia, according to a July 4th news release.

“This is a good first step, but the rest of B.C. shouldn’t have to wait,” said Kindy.

According to the release, the party is calling for Interior Health and Northern Health to launch real-time ER wait time dashboards by the end of August.

Other demands include that the provincial government ensure consistent standards and all regional health authorities make their tools mobile-friendly.

 “The rest of B.C. deserves the same tools now, not months from now,” said Day.

Northern Health told Energeticcity.ca it has examined Island Health’s tool, and acknowledged fast and reliable information about emergency departments is important.

“The health authority understands that having accurate, up-to-date information about the status of emergency departments is valuable to patients,” said Arthur Williams, communications advisor with Northern Health.

However, the health authority said it does not have the ability to create a similar website displaying data on waiting times.

“Given the large distances between emergency departments in the north, there is less reason for people to compare wait times between facilities than in the Lower Mainland or Vancouver Island,” said Williams. 

Northern Health encourages residents in need of serious medical attention to call 911, or go to an emergency department.