Union warns of increased ER closures during winter season

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The provincial ambulance paramedic union is warning residents about the strains the holiday season puts on the emergency healthcare system. 

In a November 17th press release, the Ambulance Paramedics of BC (APBC) union – the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 873 – is warning residents about the dangers of the “growing number of temporary emergency room closures.”

So far this year in northeastern B.C., Northern Health has announced 42 emergency room closures in the region, totaling more than 677 total hours, as well as three closures of the Fort St. John Hospital birthing centre.

According to the union, these closures are placing “mounting pressure” on paramedics and the ambulance service.

“This year alone, we’ve seen more than 250 separate hospital and emergency room closures across the province— from remote communities to the edge of Metro Vancouver,” Jason Jackson, president of APBC, said. 

“As these closures increase, the weight on paramedics grows heavier. Our members are being asked to fill gaps across the system that continue to widen.”

Previously, in an interview with Energeticcity.ca, Northern Health acknowledged the challenges of emergency room closures in smaller hospitals. 

“Northern Health does make every effort to reduce any service interruptions, even up to and when they’re occurring,” Lisa Zetes-Zanatta, vice president of clinical operations at Northern Health stated. 

According to the union, it has been engaging in contract negotiations with the provincial government since September. 

“While the union remains committed to reaching a fair agreement, the realities exposed by repeated ER closures underscore how essential it is to properly support and stabilize the paramedic workforce,” the release stated.

APBC warns communities to anticipate more frequent emergency room disruptions as “winter storms, holiday traffic and increased medical demand approach.”

“If your local hospital has had closures in the past, please have a plan,” Jackson said. 

“Know your nearest available ER, be aware of weather conditions and understand that transport times may be longer during these closures.”