FSJ birthing centre closes overnight due to staffing shortage

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Hospital’s birthing centre closed overnight last week due to an “unexpected staffing shortage.” 

Starting at 4 p.m. on August 7th, the birthing centre was closed for 16 hours overnight, reopening at 8 a.m. on August 8th.

Northern Health did not publish an announcement about the closure on the Northern Health Fort St. John Facebook page, its preferred method of announcing closures. 

The health authority did confirm the closure with Energeticcity.ca on August 8th, and stated patients were notified via text message. 

“Patients were notified about the service interruption at the Fort St. John birthing centre and provided with information about what they should do, should they need care,” Northern Health stated. 

It explained the closure was due to an “unexpected staffing shortage,” and that Dawson Creek and District Hospital and the Fort St. John Hospital emergency departments were both notified and “prepared to receive pregnant patients” from Fort St. John who needed care. 

This comes after Energeticcity.ca reported more than 1,200 hours of medical service closures in northeast B.C. between July 2024 and July 2025, and after Northern Health warned pregnant patients of a shortage of obstetrical specialists in the region which may see them transferred to Prince George.