Staffing challenges necessitate diversion at Fort Nelson General Hospital

FORT NELSON, B.C. – An emergency department closure is occurring at Fort Nelson General Hospital throughout most of the weekend’s end.

The region’s health authority, Northern Health, announced the closure on Sunday, May 3rd. 

It began at 8 a.m. and will continue until 7 p.m. Sunday evening, due to “staffing challenges” according to a Facebook post. 

This is the first at the hospital in two weeks, since a 12-hour diversion took place on April 19th. 

Northern Health urges anyone in the Fort Nelson area who needs life-threatening emergency care to call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available facility.

In non-urgent care situations, residents should contact their primary care provider for an appointment. 

Those without a health care professional can contact Northern Health’s Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

Northern Health also encourages Northern B.C. patients to book an appointment at a pharmacy for 21 minor ailments and prescriptions with its Book a Pharmacist program. 

Residents unsure of whether their ailment warrants an emergency visit or who need health-related advice can also call Health Link BC at 8-1-1 or visit the HealthLink BC website.