(UPDATE) Fort St. John ER to remain open, Dawson Creek ER closed

Update, December 28th: Fort St. John Emergency Room will remain open Northern Health has confirmed the Fort St. John Hospital emergency department will remain open on Sunday, reversing an earlier notice that indicated a temporary closure.

As of Sunday afternoon, the only emergency room closure affecting northeast B.C. is in Dawson Creek, where emergency department services at Dawson Creek and District Hospital remain unavailable from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday due to staffing challenges.

Original Story

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Residents across northeast B.C. are facing a rare and serious disruption to emergency healthcare on Sunday, with emergency rooms in both Fort St. John and Dawson Creek temporarily closed due to staffing shortages.

Northern Health confirmed emergency department services at Dawson Creek and District Hospital are unavailable from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, while the Fort St. John Hospital emergency department will be closed from 5 p.m. on Sunday until 7 a.m. Monday.

The closures mean, for several hours on Sunday evening, the two largest communities in northeast B.C. will have no local emergency room services available.

Northern Health advises anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency – for example those with chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding – should call 9-1-1.

Patients requiring urgent care will be transported to the nearest available and appropriate facility. Local patient transfer partners and health services have been notified, and signage is in place at both hospitals directing patients to call emergency services.

For non-emergency health concerns, residents are encouraged to call 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse or access virtual care and community-based services where available.

Northern Health says the interruptions are due to staffing challenges, an issue that has increasingly affected emergency departments across rural and northern communities in recent years.

Emergency services in both communities are expected to resume once the closures end, although residents are being urged to plan accordingly and seek help immediately if an emergency arises.