Chetwynd General Hospital emergency department closes for first time in April

CHETWYND, B.C. — Chetwynd General Hospital’s emergency department was closed this week for the first time since March.

According to a Facebook post from Northern Health at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 10th, the hospital closed the department from 7:00 p.m. that day until 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 11th, due to “staffing challenges.”

This is the first diversion at the hospital in April, after one in late March and two in February.

While the diversion was in effect, residents in need of life-threatening urgent care were urged to call 911 for transportation to the nearest available emergency department.

Meanwhile, people with less urgent care needs could contact their primary care provider or call the NH Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic at 1-844-645-7811.

This comes after Energeticcity.ca revealed Northern Health reported more than 800 hours of hospital closures throughout northeast B.C. between July 2024 and January 2025.