Fort Nelson Hospital ER services unavailable Sunday

FORT NELSON, B.C. – The region’s health authority has announced a temporary shutdown at the Fort Nelson General Hospital’s Emergency department.

Northern Health announced on a Facebook post on August 3rd that “staffing challenges” have rendered the ER unavailable on August 3rd between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m.

This is the first closure at the hospital since earlier this year when services were interrupted on February 11th for the same reason.

People in the Fort Nelson area who need life-threatening emergency care should call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

For non-urgent care needs, residents should contact their primary care provider to make an appointment.  

Those without a healthcare provider in the area can call the Northern Health Virtual Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily to access a doctor or nurse practitioner.

The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program enables Indigenous residents and families living in B.C. with limited or no access to their own doctors to make virtual appointments at 1-855-344-3800 seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Northern B.C. residents can also book an appointment to see a pharmacist for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives by accessing the book a pharmacist website.

Patients who aren’t sure whether their condition would warrant an emergency room visit can also call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or visit the HealthLink BC website.