Northern Health closes Chetwynd emergency room

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Chetwynd General Hospital’s emergency room has shut its doors, and is not expected to reopen for more than three hours. 

According to a 9:50 a.m. Facebook post by Northern Health to its Chetwynd Facebook page, the Chetwynd General Hospital’s emergency department is on diversion. 

The health authority did not specify a reason as to the closure, and stated services were “expected to resume” at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29th. 

This is the second diversion so far this month in Chetwynd, after an overnight closure which started on October 9th, and the fourth so far in northeast B.C., after Northern Health announced closures in Tumbler Ridge and Dawson Creek.

During an emergency room diversion, residents in need of life-threatening emergency care are urged to contact 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

Residents can also contact their primary care provider to make an appointment for non-urgent needs. 

Those without a family doctor or nurse practitioner can call Northern Health’s Virtual Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.