Fort St. John Hospital birthing centre closes two nights in a row

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John hospital birthing centre has reopened after its second overnight closure in as many days. 

According to an anonymous Facebook post, a text message was sent to individuals in the community to notify them the Fort St. John Hospital birthing centre was “on service interruption.” 

Northern Health confirmed to Energeticcity.ca the birthing centre had closed two nights in a row, on October 29th from 12:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., and on October 30th from midnight to 7 a.m.

Both closures were due to “a staffing shortage.”

According to the message, pregnant patients who “have symptoms of labour” or with pregnancy concerns were advised to travel to the Dawson Creek and District Hospital.

“Patients greater than 36 weeks are advised to stay in Dawson Creek for the duration of [the] service interruption,” the text stated. 

“In the event of an emergency, go urgently to the emergency department at the Fort St. John Hospital or call 911.”

The anonymous Facebook poster expressed sympathy for the understaffed nature of Northern Health, but also noted they received the message at 12:48 a.m., almost an hour into the closure. 

“I am now 36 weeks pregnant, so at 1 a.m. am I just supposed to pack up [at] short notice and ship to Dawson just in case? When I am a single mother with other children and no vehicle?” She wrote. 

So far this month, Northern Health has closed emergency rooms in Dawson Creek and the districts of Chetwynd and Tumbler Ridge four times.