Tumbler Ridge residents protest ER on-call hours cut

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — Tumbler Ridge residents took to the streets this weekend to protest Northern Health’s cuts to on-call and weekend hours.

The rally, held outside Tumbler Ridge Town Hall on Saturday, October 4th, drew dozens of attendees and speakers, including Mayor Darryl Krakowka and Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld. 

The protest comes in response to Northern Health’s ‘temporary’ cut to weekend and after-hours on-call services at the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre, first announced in early September.

Northern Health cited staff shortages and challenges in maintaining coverage for its weekday operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as the reason for the cuts.

The modified schedule limits on-call hours to 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, effectively closing the department on evenings and weekends.

In response to the backlash, Northern Health held two open houses on September 7th and 11th and later clarified the measure was temporary. 

B.C. health minister Josie Osborne previously told Energeticcity.ca the Ministry of Health will “continue to engage and listen” and “find solutions that serve the community and support our hard-working healthcare professionals.”

In a Facebook post following the rally, Neufeld said he was “delighted to attend and support” the event.

“The passion in the voices of speakers emphasizing the vital role of frontline healthcare workers in Tumbler Ridge was truly uplifting,” Neufeld said.

At the event, Neufeld accepted a petition signed by more than 1,800 residents, a figure he claimed surpassed the total number of Tumbler Ridge voters in both the last provincial and federal elections combined.

The petition calls on Osborne to restore full emergency room access “as soon as possible.”

Mayor Krakowka praised the turnout and said the rally was a powerful message to the province and Northern Health.

“I think it’s great that we’re seeing residents come forward,” Krakowka told Energeticcity.ca.

“We’re not going to go down quietly here. We believe the ER is important for our residents, our families and the visitors who come here to tour the back country.”

Energeticcity.ca reached out to Northern Health for an updated comment but did not immediately receive a response. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.