‘We’re putting lives at risk’: Patient dies en route to Dawson Creek following controversial reduction in health centre on-call service

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — A person has died en route from Tumbler Ridge to Dawson Creek in the same week the on-call hours were reduced at the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre, the mayor has confirmed.

Last week, Northern Health announced the severe reduction of on-call services within the District of Tumbler Ridge from Friday, September 5th. 

Prior to this, on-call services were available 24 hours a day. Starting on Friday, on-call services at the district’s health centre are only available from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

The initial announcement post from Northern Health said the change allows for “less potential for weekday interruptions due to having been called out for after-hours coverage needs.”

The district’s mayor, Darryl Krakowka, told Energeticcity.ca an acute patient, en route from Tumbler Ridge to the Dawson Creek and District Hospital, passed away in an ambulance between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. on September 6th.

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) told Energeticcity.ca it could not confirm any details due to patient privacy, but did offer “sincere condolences to the family and friends of this individual.”

It also confirmed the BCEHS responded to an incident in Tumbler Ridge on September 6th. 

“Following the change in service hours at the Tumbler Ridge community health centre, BCEHS has added a second full-time ambulance in Tumbler Ridge to support the community,” BCEHS stated. 

“The second ambulance was staffed during the time of this incident.”

Northern Health acknowledged in a statement to Energeticcity.ca it would be “looking at the circumstances” to “ensure all appropriate measures were taken.”

“I said that right from the start on Thursday, we’re putting lives in danger,” Krakowka said. “We’re putting lives at risk by doing what we’re doing.

“Here’s an example: 24 hours after [Northern Health] made its announcement, we now have a death in our community on transport to Dawson Creek.

“I’ll be frank: do I know personally if the doctor and the nurse were there, would it have been a different outcome? We don’t know. Nobody can answer that right now.”

Tumbler Ridge, a municipality with a population of 2,399 people, is an epicentre of both outdoor enthusiasts and industry.

There is the Quintette Mine, along with the Meikle Wind and Quality Wind farm projects in the area. These are industries where Krakowka said access to on-call services are “essential” in times of emergencies.

“We need to make sure we have facilities,” said Krakowka. “[It] is essential to have this service that we pay for as a province. I’m going to keep fighting the battle.”

In the days since the announcement, both Krakowka and city officials have had extended conversations with health minister Josie Osborne and Northern Health officials, he said, to come up with ideas and create solutions.

Krakowka feels the open house this past weekend, where residents voiced their opinions, had a “full impact” in Northern Health calling the changes to on-call services “temporary” in a Facebook post on Tuesday, September 9th.

“I don’t believe they were going to see [and] didn’t think they’d see the turnout from our community and our residents,” said Krakowka. 

“I dialogue with [Northern Health CEO] Ciro Panessa daily. I’d been asking right from the start that this is announced as temporary.

“[I asked Northern Health to] make a promise, do it right now. Put it on paper that this is temporary so we can move forward.”

Krakowka feels if on-call service is suspended permanently in Tumbler Ridge, it could create a domino effec which leads to Northern Health shutting down health services in other communities.

He said he has floated several ideas, such as hiring travelling nurses who work overnight, but acknowledges this is a “temporary” solution.

Krakowka even said there are residents who have talked about the idea of the district taking on the healthcare responsibilities independently.

However, he does not shift any blame to healthcare professionals, saying all who work in the district are “100 per cent amazing” in their work.

“We are looking for more locums, getting some doctors here part-time. [They would] work full-time, but on a part-time schedule to help us out until we can get it done,” said Krakowka.

“[Perhaps more] virtual doctors. There are lots of things that we need to put on the table. Discuss why they may or may not work. Let’s try it. If it doesn’t work, we can go back to ground zero.”

Northern Health has announced ongoing engagement discussions with residents starting on Thursday, September 11th at the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre.

The event is open to 180 members only, according to a Facebook post. Those looking to register can do so by emailing tanya.carter2@northernhealth.ca by 9 a.m. on Thursday morning.