Nurse-to-patient ratios and overcrowding patient rooms in FSJ Hospital

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy is voicing his concerns about the nurse-to-patient ratios and overcrowding of patient rooms in the Fort St. John hospital. 

In a live reel posted to Facebook on February 4th, Kealy talked about the failing health care system in the region.

“I’ve been hearing from healthcare workers about the nurse-to-patient ratio of one to four is not being met,” Kealy said.

He believes that the nurse-to-patient ratio is “seldom being met.” 

He shared: “It’s overworking nurses and healthcare workers and putting them in scenarios where it’s unsafe. 

“The last time I went in there, there were 12 nurses on staff on the floor, and they had 56 patients in there.” 

However, Northern Health highlights that during periods of higher patient volume, patients may be required to share rooms normally designed for single occupancy. 

The healthcare provider said: “Single occupancy rooms at the Fort St. John Hospital were designed to be large enough to accommodate two patient beds when needed.

“All inpatient rooms have a minimum of two connections for patient oxygen and suction, as well as sufficient power outlets for all necessary medical equipment for two patients.”

This allocation doesn’t meet the minimum, and Kealy said that sometimes this number has been lower in the past. 

“Our nurses are being overloaded and overworked, and it makes it difficult for them to be able to do their jobs properly;it puts a strain on the hospital, and we do not need any more nurses being burnt out or contemplating leaving their jobs,” he expressed, adding the front line is the most important thing we need right now. 

The Ministry of Health reiterated that Northern Health has already been implementing the minimum nurse-to-patient ratio at 4:1 for medical patients, including at Fort St. John Hospital.

It also highlighted that alternate level of care patients in the Fort St. John Hospital and residents at Peace Villa are staffed with nurses and care aides according to the required long-term care ratio of 3:36 care hours per resident per day. 

In addition to this, overcrowding is another issue at the Fort St. John Hospital. 

“If you go to the second floor in the hospital, the capacity of that floor is supposed to be 40 and [the] last [time] I was there, 56 patients were there,” Kealy said. “There are additional people in rooms that are meant to have one person.” 

He alleges that the rooms are only plumbed for oxygen and suction for only one person. 

Kealy also shared several people are waiting to get into Peace Villa, which is at maximum capacity. 

“I believe that there’s a wait list for Peace Villa of approximately 48 people outside of the hospital,” he noted. “Currently on the second floor, there’s over 10 people [that are] waiting to get into Peace Villa as well.” 

Kealy believes that an independent audit of Northern Health needs to happen. 

“[This is necessary] to show where the money is really going and actually provide accountability and transparency to the North that money is being appropriated properly,” he shared. 

He believes that seniors are getting the short-end of the stick in light of B.C. Budget 2026 delayed several long-term care homes, including one in Fort St. John. 

He said: “It’s unacceptable. These are people in our society that have paid a lifetime of taxes, and this government is throwing them under the bus [as] their solution. They should never be treated that way.”