Fort Nelson General Hospital ER closed for 12 hours

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The emergency department at Fort Nelson General Hospital is currently closed due to “staffing challenges.” 

According to a Facebook post uploaded to Northern Health – Fort Nelson and Area’s page, the closure began at 7 a.m. on April 19th and will last until 7 p.m. on April 19th.  

The department was previously closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on February 7th. 

The status of an emergency department may change abruptly, so the health authority is urging the community to check Northern Health’s Emergency Department Status page, which is updated in real time, Northern Health said. 

Residents of Fort Nelson who are in need of life-threatening emergency care that can include chest pains, difficulty breathing and severe bleeding are asked to call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. 

When services are interrupted, partners involved in patient transfer and local health services are notified. 

Signage is placed outside the hospital informing patients to call 911 for transport. 

People in need of non-emergent medical treatment or who do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner are asked to call the Northern Health Virtual Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. 

Indigenous people and their family members living in B.C. with limited or no access to their own doctors can use the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program to book a virtual appointment by calling 1-855-344-3800, seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the post said. 

The post said northern B.C. residents can also book an appointment to see a pharmacist for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives by clicking here. 

The health authority asked those who are unsure if their condition warrants an emergency room visit or need health advice to call HealthLink B.C. 24/7. 

Northern Health said it appreciated the community’s continued understanding and support.