(UPDATE) Fort Nelson ER reopens after closure

Updated July 18, 10 a.m.: As of 9:40 a.m., the ER in Fort Nelson is now open. Northern Health was able to find staff to reopen the emergency room.

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Emergency department services at the Fort Nelson General Hospital will be unavailable until 7 p.m. on July 18, due to staffing challenges.

According to a post from Northern Health, emergency department services at the Fort Nelson General Hospital will be interrupted from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

This is the second consecutive day emergency department services at the hospital have been affected by staffing challenges, following similar interruptions on July 17. 

Northern Health reminds residents that emergency department status can change abruptly and reminds them to monitor its emergency department status page for real-time information on closures. 

Residents in Fort Nelson who require life-threatening emergency care are advised to call 911 for transport to the nearest available facility, Northern Health said. 

When services are interrupted, Northern Health said its partner in patient transfer and local health services are notified, and signage will be in place at the hospital instructing patients to call 911 for transport. 

Patients without a primary care provider can contact the Northern Health Virtual Primary and Community Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for non-urgent care needs to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner. 

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

Residents in northern B.C. can book an appointment with a pharmacist for minor ailments and prescription contraceptives. 

Anyone unsure whether their condition requires a visit to the emergency room, or who needs health advice, can contact HealthLink BC at 811 or visit the HealthLink BC website for 24-hour, seven-day-a-week non-emergency health information. 

Northern Health said it appreciates the continued patience, understanding and support for its dedicated healthcare providers and staff.